Key Takeaways
1. Game Removal: The indie game Schedule I was taken down from the Australian Steam store due to a lack of classification by the Australian Classification Board, which is legally required for all games sold in Australia.
2. Developer’s Clarification: Tyler, the developer, indicated that the game is not banned but is awaiting classification, as he assumed the classification law only applied to console or physical copies.
3. Legal Compliance: All video games, including those on digital platforms, must be classified under Australia’s National Classification Scheme before being distributed, which highlights the importance of legal compliance for developers.
4. Challenges for Developers: The situation underscores the difficulties independent developers face in understanding and navigating international legal requirements, as seen in similar cases with other games and platforms.
5. Comparison with Other Platforms: Unlike Steam, Google Play includes specific prompts for regional legal compliance during the app submission process, emphasizing the need for developers to be aware of local regulations.
The indie game Schedule I, which features an open world, has been taken down from the Australian Steam store due to a problem related to its classification. Tyler, the developer from TVGS, confirmed that the game hadn’t been submitted to the Australian Classification Board, which is a legal requirement.
Developer’s Explanation
In a message posted on Reddit and referenced in the discussions on Steam, Tyler shared, “I just found out that all games sold in Australia need to be classified before they can be available. I thought this only applied to console or physical copies. It seems like this law is not enforced consistently since there are many unclassified games available in Australia. We are starting the classification process today and are hoping to fix this in the next few days. I apologize for the trouble! To sum it up: not banned—just waiting for classification.”
Legal Requirements
The Australian Classification Board states that all video games available through online stores must be classified prior to being distributed. This rule covers digital platforms on PCs, mobile gadgets, and gaming consoles as part of Australia’s National Classification Scheme.
Current Availability
SteamDB shows that the store package for Schedule I is labeled as “Not in AU,” which confirms that it is currently unavailable in Australia. However, the game can still be played in all other regions where it is supported.
Schedule I was taken off sale in Australia after achieving over 459,000 simultaneous players on Steam, due to the classification compliance issue. Its removal has highlighted the ongoing difficulties independent developers face in navigating international legal requirements.
Industry Comparisons
Similar challenges have cropped up in other instances, like Sega pulling more than 60 classic games from various digital stores and Amazon taking down the EmulationStation app, which helps organize and launch emulated games. These cases highlight how platform compliance and local laws can influence game accessibility.
Steam’s onboarding documentation seems to lack prompts for region-specific legal compliance, such as the necessary classification in Australia. Developers are responsible for ensuring their games meet local legislation, but it’s unclear if Steam conducts automated legal checks during the submission process.
In contrast, Google Play includes regional compliance steps within its app submission process, requiring developers to submit documentation for legal approval in countries with strict national regulations. These prompts are visible in the Play Console and are essential for distribution in those areas.
TVGS has stated that it is now working on getting the classification to restore access for Australian players. As of now, the game is still available in all other supported areas.
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