M-rated Manhunt 2 due on Halloween

Rockstar Games will release a "modified version" of the controversial action game re-rated by ESRB at the end of October.

Rockstar has never been a company to shy away from controversy--if it isn't the "Hot Coffee" scandal in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, it's the furor from the press in the weeks before the release of Canis Canem Edit (known as Bully in the US), or the banning of Manhunt 2 in the UK and Ireland.

While a game cannot be banned outright by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board in the US, it can receive an AO for Adults Only rating, which is a similar kiss of death due to release and sales policies; many major retailers in the country will not stock AO-rated games, and Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft refuse to allow them on their systems. Manhunt 2 was handed down this rating from the ESRB.

After Manhunt 2 received the AO rating, Take-Two suspended the release of the title while it "explored its options." In a recent conference call, Take-Two chairman Strauss Zelnick promised shareholders and journalists that the title would be released.

Today, he gets his wish, as Rockstar Games announced that a "modified version" of Manhunt 2 has received an M for Mature rating for ages 17 and over, and will be released on the PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 2, and Wii in North America on October 31.

The company did not comment on what had been cut from the title in order to achieve the lower rating. The ESRB assigned the following content descriptors to Manhunt 2: Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, and Use of Drugs.

Sam Houser, founder and executive producer of Rockstar Games, commented, "Manhunt 2 is important to us, and we're glad it can finally be appreciated as a gaming experience. We love the horror genre. Manhunt 2 is a powerful piece of interactive story telling that is a unique video game experience. We think horror fans will love it."

The company is also appealing the ban in the UK, but this is a lengthy process which could take months.

Rockstar had not returned calls for comment as of press time.

611 Comments

  • RockaWuzHur

    Posted Oct 24, 2007 6:09 am PT

    How can the freakin ESRB tell us whats too violent and whats "to graphic" for adults? I think some bastard at the ESRB must have gotten some kind of bribe from Jack Thompson so that they would make the game AO so no one could buy it. The game can't be any worse than the violence in GoW!!!

  • goku365

    Posted Sep 26, 2007 11:40 pm PT

    i have manhunt one

  • bgriffithsps3

    Posted Sep 22, 2007 4:01 am PT

    Comments like those from Percypoo aren't helping here. Hoping they will all be dead? Weirdo. This is why 13 years olds (although I know not all 13 year olds are this narrow minded) shouldn't be playing this stuff. Time to grow up.

  • ry-daly666

    Posted Sep 21, 2007 11:53 am PT

    it sucks britan dosent get it :@ i have 2 get it of ebay or sumthin

  • Percypoo

    Posted Sep 20, 2007 1:20 pm PT

    Im so upset that this game had to be censored before it could be released. I will never know what fantastic superviolent things had been going on in the original version and for this reason I will never buy this stupid censored game ever because I will accept nothing less than the original "AO rated" product. Im 13 years old so those disgusting crusty senile old horrible Christian( yuck i hate them!!) bastard game ruining censorers got what they wanted. But I completed the original Manhunt anyway and hopefully they will soon all be dead!!! And we'll have A NEW UNCENSORED ERA IN GAMING RUN BY THE NEW GENERATION!!!! THOSEI IN FAVOR PUT THUMBS UP ON THIS COMMENT!!!!

  • Oneguy229

    Posted Sep 18, 2007 10:49 am PT

    I am not to attracted to manhunt 2 but I am going to buy it because of what happened with the Adult rating. Rebel People!

  • shadygamedealer

    Posted Sep 18, 2007 9:25 am PT

    It's a video game! Freedom of speech was established so that those with views different from the government won't be punished for them. Example: Religion, politics, art, etc. Video games, especially Manhunt has no agenda but to be as gruesome as possible and be fun at the same time. I've already played the wii version at my manager's annual conference and all I can say is that this is rockstar's attempt, as always, to put out a game that pushes the limits as far as they can be pushed. Freedom of speech has nothing to do with anything especially when there really is nothing to say. Gamers, get out from in front of your t.v. or computer and open a book. Better yet, open an encyclopedia on the constitution of the U.S.A.

  • phenom_piano88

    Posted Sep 17, 2007 7:25 am PT

    I loved manhunt one on the PS2 and all the GTA games, i didn't have a chance to play Bully but it seemed like a great game.

    shame that so many people are against the game,

    Rockstar Rocks!

  • deviltronix

    Posted Sep 16, 2007 1:35 pm PT

    To all the people here that say they are glad that M games aren't carried in stores or allowed on the systems....
    You are just handing over your freedoms back to the government, essential supporting a police state. You can only support Freedom of Speech when you support something you don't agree with. Freedom of Speech as long as you are comfortable with it isn't freedom at all. It is one of the greatest things in the history of man and you are just willing to abandon it. As hard as it, you need to accept differences..otherwise you'll be on the other side of the fence someday wondering how all your liberties disappeared...

  • sirpyke29

    Posted Sep 14, 2007 3:58 am PT

    Its not the fact that the AO status is a problem its just that they wont sell as much because they are missing alot of people within the M rating, but as to why they dont carry them even when there is a rating system is beyond me. Maybe Walmart wants to be seen as a family retailer lol

  • TheCrimsonLord

    Posted Sep 13, 2007 2:04 pm PT

    I honestly do not see the point of banning a game, or the fact that the majority of game-selling stores do not sell AO rated games. I mean: It has a rating for a reason, if you're not an adult. You're considered too immature (physically and most likely mentally) to handle an AO game. However it is their parent's fault for buying such games. Not the company for releasing it. All in all it's usually a simple game that the idiotic parent's buy, then complain and whine about. Don't want your kids playing M, or AO games? Then do not buy them. Utterly simple.

  • aznballer91

    Posted Sep 12, 2007 2:25 pm PT

    god, what happened to freedom of speech? yeesh ppl its just a game. if its too real and hard to stomach for u, then dont play it. the game clearly states ADULT ONLY, so if ur kids or ppl that are under the age of 21 or 18 then its not the company's fault. ITS THE PARENTS FAULT THAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE PLAYING THIS GAME WITHOUT SUPERVISION AND THE CLERK FOR SELLING THIS GAME TO THE DAM KID. thanks alot for censoring the most satisfying kills of all time u b!@#%#

  • Toyeboy

    Posted Sep 11, 2007 8:35 pm PT

    I'm glad to see them not allowing adult only games b/c I do think games are starting to go to far with the sexual content, and if a game is Adult Only anything can go and frankly I don't want to see sex in violent games, just violence.

  • shatgan2222

    Posted Sep 11, 2007 1:13 pm PT

    Its definitely going to be banned in the UK lol.

  • JussCaca

    Posted Sep 11, 2007 5:36 am PT

    why do they have to do that to us..whats the point of getting it if its rated M

  • YankFreak

    Posted Sep 10, 2007 7:48 pm PT

    Why dont they leave our games alone...its fun killing people...well in games anyways...its only animated violence.

  • spacemonkey1420

    Posted Sep 10, 2007 3:53 pm PT

    Just curious what the point of an AO Rating is Anyway. If Sony(PS it all) Microsoft (X box and windows) and Nintendo (Game wii Cube) Won't let them on there systems where are you supposed to play it. You might as well give the game the Black Spot and be done with it. it's Like saying this Home stereo system won't Play XXX DVD's, It's just Foolish.

  • junebug335

    Posted Sep 9, 2007 5:29 pm PT

    it matters not cause i woulda bought it ao or not. they dont want ao games on their systems but porn and violence is just fine

  • Mankind666

    Posted Sep 8, 2007 2:58 am PT

    this sucks...for you in Thailand they sell gta sa to 11 year old i'm 16 so who going to stop me

  • Ipwnn00bs87

    Posted Sep 7, 2007 12:59 pm PT

    I'm soo glad that i'm actually goin to be getting this game...i mean yea it sucks that is goin to be rated M but hey its better not getting it!! I can't wait to play it on my Wii!! At least i know i'm goin to be doing this halloween; halloween parties no thank u i have a killing on my wii to do. ^_^

  • hellhound1345

    Posted Sep 7, 2007 6:39 am PT

    I Spose we shoud all just be glad for its release, i mean, anyone remember the movie scarface? When it was going to be released they went through the exact same process...only they took it to court, and won! But yeh, i spose, i mean rockstars games, have been slowy and slowy gettingmore violent, and its slipping through they system. So i guess in the years to come, these contents for each rating will be stretched.

  • bgriffithsps3

    Posted Sep 6, 2007 10:00 am PT

    It's all very well saying parents should be keeping an eye on what their kids are playing, but they won't will they. I think Sony and Microsoft etc know that it's not hard for kids to get their hands on these titles whether it be through a complacent parent, slack store staff or at a friends house or sneaking a go on their 'elder brothers' version. Eventually it will get an uncut release. Everything allways does eventually.

  • thunderbone

    Posted Sep 6, 2007 4:44 am PT

    I'm still hung up on the idiocy of the console makers not allowing AO games on their systems. "0h noes we cant a11owz teh a0-rated gamez on r systemz0!!!!111!!!one wut ab0ut teh kiddzz0rz???999???"

    Sure, it;s okay to allow adult themes in every other facet of entertainment media, but not games??? It's not that I'm interested in anything like that personally, but at the same time, I hate having someone try to decide things for me. Wasn't that what the first 18 years of our lives were about? To me, it's as if there's still that underlaying notion that video games are only for kids/teenagers. An AO rated game merely cuts out just THAT demographic.

  • yabba1

    Posted Sep 6, 2007 4:32 am PT

    I'd like to know what they cut

  • assault120

    Posted Sep 6, 2007 3:23 am PT

    Those censors!!!!

  • lilfrightmare

    Posted Sep 6, 2007 1:01 am PT

    Im sure they were always gonna ban it just on principle alone no matter what after all the media surrounding the first one.

    But if they made a film of house of 1000 corpses or something similar it'd be banned because apparently its ok to see an actor do something but not a games character.

    It is parents who need to stop giving five year old kids such hardcore games, and then causing uproar afterwards

  • Heinz57AC

    Posted Sep 5, 2007 2:40 pm PT

    This is total BS. Just because parents are stupid and let there kids play any game before they look into it, we adults r punished. Oh and also its not the ratings fault its nintendo sony and microsoft. They all said they won't allow a game on their consoles if they're higher than a mature rating. Bastards stupidest crap ever they won't lose money on an AO rating cuz all kids will ant it and they're parents won't check it and of course Adult gamers have been waitin for AO games.

  • st1sk8er18

    Posted Sep 5, 2007 12:31 pm PT

    "OMG! it doesnt have enough blood and violence!! Im gonna kill somebody!"

    lol,i think its good that they took some things out of it,i mean,look at whats done to everyone whos commented on this....are you really going to murder someone cause a game took a couple things out so its more accessible to everyone?

  • iory2

    Posted Sep 5, 2007 11:55 am PT

    thought england was a free country wheres the freedom now

  • hellhound1345

    Posted Sep 5, 2007 6:30 am PT

    I was reading another article about this, and apparently, the dutch get the "uncut" version, because under dutch law, there is nothing prohibitng it from being released there. Why do these consoles not want there market to expand? I mean sure this game is going to create alot of contraversey, but still, wont that appeal to more to the older audience, especially for the wii. I dont know about everyone else, but i consider the wii to be a childrens console, because of the games it has on it, but having a game like manhunt 2 be released on it, certainly changes my perspective of it.

    Finally, i think sony and so on, are scared that their sales will fall, because, if some stupid parent buys this game for their 12yr old child and see this game, will be like "blah blahh blah **** **** **** I don think its the game which should be altered, its the parents who need to be educated that, some games arnt ment for kids, reguardless.

  • Dan2002sk8er

    Posted Sep 4, 2007 1:04 pm PT

    couldn't they just release it as unrated like a DVD? Then all retailers can sell it and Sony and Nintendo could be happy not to have an AO title. I mean there is no law that says that video games need to be rated to be sold, like movies THEY DON'T NEED TO BE RATED.

  • Huntress

    Posted Sep 4, 2007 6:13 am PT

    Wow, I'm suddenly feeling overwhelming violent impulses. No, not from playing GTA- that makes me feel calmer. It's from watching all this violation of basic freedoms going down, with no one outside of hardcore gamers apparently caring.

    Must... suppress desire... to... kill...

  • Rochie101

    Posted Sep 3, 2007 6:58 pm PT

    don_bidarian,
    It's because of your Mother and others like her that the rest of us, have to fight so bloody hard to get mature games.

  • PHeMoX

    Posted Sep 3, 2007 9:33 am PT

    All this commotion really was for nothing ... I guess they've removed the violent sex scene, or perhaps made it less visual. I don't know, I don't care. This game will be cool anyways, although I must admit that the first game became rather boring after it's initial 4 hours or so of gameplay. I haven't played Manhunt 1 until the end. Still, it's a complete mystery to me why thát game has a 18+ rating here. There's nothing a 16 year old couldn't handle in Manhunt 1, especially when these people can watch certain horror flicks that are tons and tons worse.

  • breakdown84

    Posted Sep 2, 2007 6:53 pm PT

    I hope no major features, animations, moves, weapons etc. were removed. Fingers crossed.

  • calbert

    Posted Sep 2, 2007 7:28 am PT

    What if this (new version) is a gimmick by Rock*, to make their game more than just a violent thriller. Nothing generates more demand than massive negative press. Its in our nature, we want to see "what is so bad and evil." Sure R* got the shaft on the initial grading process (which I will agree with those who say it is outdated and stupid) but if there is any silver lining to this storm cloud, its the fact that if they can find a way to release it ANYWHERE, those who want to obtain the "naughty" version can...and R* wins both ways. I was around when they tried to ban the first Sega CD game, Night trap, for showing girls getting abducted in a variety of "B" rated movie ways. No blood, No weapons, No death, and definitely no bolt cutters interacting with scrotums. This game will make its debut, uncut and violent as ever, and will sell like Wii on launch day......all R* needs to do is make us feel like we are being denied a part of freedom, and the patriot in all of us will come fighting back.

  • Chubbcow

    Posted Sep 2, 2007 5:41 am PT

    Grandhustlepimp despite what some people will tell you caps lock is NOT cruise control for cool

    Banning games seems a bit silly though, considering the average gamer is over 18 . And honestly, im 17 now and I dont think the AO manhunt 2 will warp my fragile little mind - and if it did it probably will still 9 months from now when I turn 18

  • neock2003

    Posted Sep 1, 2007 8:03 pm PT

    I guess that means that I'll wait for the review of this game before I buy it!

  • lpacheco

    Posted Sep 1, 2007 3:17 pm PT

    The retailers aren't the only place we can buy games... that's why exist INTERNET... duh!

  • Grandhustlepimp

    Posted Sep 1, 2007 12:43 pm PT

    SO WAT IF IT HAS A AO RATING. I MEAN HOW MANY STORES ACTUALLY SELL THE M RATED GAMES TO LITLE KIDS ANYWAYS. IM GOING TO GET THE AO GAME SOMEWHERE ELSE EITHER WAY. OH YEA SONY, NINTENDO AND MICROSOFT YOU GUYS HAVE GOT TO REALISE THAT MOST OF US GAMERS LOVE VIOLENCE AND A COUPLE OF AO TITLES WOULDNT HURT YOUR SALES, PERSONALLY JUDGING FROM WHAT EVERYONE IS COMMENTING IM GUESSING THAT A LOT OF US WOULD GO AND BUY THE AO GAME RATHER THAN THE M RATED.

  • ewmgreendawg

    Posted Sep 1, 2007 10:40 am PT

    they should've released back when it when it was supposed to come out with the AO rating. they'd still sell 800,000 copies. sure some retailers wouldn't carry it but people could just buy it off the internet.

  • Xaxon

    Posted Sep 1, 2007 9:52 am PT

    all this stuff about parents not supervising their kids games is so annoying, as true as it may be, it has to come down to our responsibility as gamers to buy what we are supposed to play. There is a reason why game developers dont want 13 year olds to be playin games like these and i understand fully. Any way, like i always said, if congressmen really ban mature games, they have to ban rated R movies and porn. Cant wait to get this game though

  • dxassassin619

    Posted Aug 31, 2007 6:10 pm PT

    i hate to say i told you so but.....

  • xxadminlixx

    Posted Aug 31, 2007 3:44 pm PT

    wtf man..how can manhunt 2 not land on pc?? f**k this whole rating sh*t parents are not gonna supervise their kids whne they buy games anyway, the rating sh*t is just an intervention to sales and a hindrance to purchase. why da f**k are they trying to stop rockstar from earning money??

  • don_bidarian

    Posted Aug 31, 2007 10:18 am PT

    i wonder why they rate games, i can get any game that i want and my mom doesnt care what rating is it.
    and i never killed anyone for playin violent games or stuff.
    i hope they release the full version somewhere.... i will get it anyway. but till then i should have fun with this *modified version*

  • Ponczman

    Posted Aug 31, 2007 8:27 am PT

    The truth is that I will have it anyway....it doesn't matter if I import it or whatever....those ratings are simply f***ed up

  • Alfacinha

    Posted Aug 31, 2007 8:10 am PT

    I never understood this ratings thing anyway. Why do it? There are two ways a kid can get a game in his hands: He can buy it, or he can download it illegally! If he chooses the illegal way, then he's probably smarter then his parents anyway and he'll end playing the game no matter what rating they give the game, and smart kids don't do stupid things (except download ILLEGAL titles)... problem solved. If a kid chooses to buy it, then that's a different story. He'll need money. Where does he get it? From his parents! Why rate games? Simply control your kids expenses (better do it anyway cause drugs are cheaper then games these days...). Problem solved. So explain me why game ratings are needed? Oh, you're right... ratings are for those parents who don't educate or have time to decide what's best for there kids and need someone else to do it for them...

  • RockTheSuburbs

    Posted Aug 31, 2007 7:21 am PT

    How does the Hills Have Eyes 1 & 2 both receive simple R ratings, yet a freakin' video game can't even be released the way it was made? Those movies sucked anyway.
    F*ck soccer moms.

  • Alacard_Omalley

    Posted Aug 30, 2007 4:50 pm PT

    fatesmessenger
    i dont know how true your claim of gamestop's knowledge ability is however i wish i was there the day of said woman's rampage

  • memesmugy

    Posted Aug 30, 2007 4:36 pm PT

    i hope this game has lots og violence and killing etc, it will get peoples crazy side out lol....should b good

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