Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition coming to Australia

Almost two years since being refused classification, twice, NetherRealm Studios' Mortal Kombat has today finally received approval to be sold in Australia. The news comes after the Komplete Edition of the game was granted the R18+ rating for its high-impact violence, blood and gore, and moderate-impact language and themes. The announcement was made just a month after the game's Australian distributor, Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment, confirmed it would submit the game for consideration.

The game became one of the country's highest-profile titles to be banned from sale, and further spurred the long-running national debate over the need for the introduction of a mature rating for games. The Classification Board denied its first two submissions on the grounds of its "explicit" violence, blood spray, and limb dismemberment during fatalities, meaning it was unable to be accommodated within the then-maximum MA15+ guidelines.

Mortal Kombat Komplete Edition is not the first game to receive Australia's new R18+ rating. Last month, Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge was given the black sticker shortly after the classification was introduced on January 1 this year. However, Mortal Kombat has the distinction of being the first game to be re-rated after the introduction of the adult category.

The Komplete Edition version will be available for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and will include all previously released downloadable content: playable characters Scarlet, Kenshii, Rain, and Freddy Krueger. Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment declined to comment on an expected release date, or whether the PlayStation Vita version of Mortal Kombat will also be sold in Australia.