And just like that, it’s gone.
Early this morning, we reported that, despite Hotline Miami 2 previously receiving a “Refused Classification” rating by the Australian Classification Board (ACB), the Hotline Miami Collection was available for purchase on the Australian Switch eShop. It was revealed during last night’s Indie World showcase, and available shortly after the presentation ended. It is now unavailable for purchase, and has been removed from the eShop, including wishlists, and the webshop.
The collection, which features both Hotline Miami and its sequel, Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number, was curiously listed as an MA15+ release. This is despite the first game receiving an R18+ rating in 2015, and the second being refused classification twice in the same year. An ACB listing discovered by Vooks revealed that a title referred to as “Hotline Miami” was submitted through the IARC automatic classification system in June of this year, and subsequently was refused classification. It’s unclear if this listing referred to the first game, or was simply a titling error. Either way, according to ACB guidelines, the collection should not have been available for purchase.
It’s currently unknown if the title will return to the eShop, but given the Board’s hardline stance on the classification of games, we expect it won’t. We’ve reached out to Digital Devolver for comment.
Copies of the game bought prior to its removal from the eShop will still be available to download and play.
No date, no platforms just yet.
