Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number caused some controversy when it was released nearly a decade ago. Yet somehow, all these years later, the game still causes problems, at least for Australians.
Sony has sent out emails to people (thanks to ResetEra’s Bishop 89 for taking the screenshot), telling them that the game “has not yet received an appropriate rating from the Australian Ratings Board” and that they have therefore “taken steps to remove customers who do not like the game from Remove this product from your hands”. The game is available via PlayStation Plus. “
Sure enough, a quick search of the Australian PlayStation Store turned up nothing. It has been erased from existence. Anyone who checked the game in their library reported finding a lock symbol.
It’s worth noting that Hotline Miami 2 was not available in Australia at launch, as the Australian Certification Board would not award it a rating, essentially banning the game.
However, in 2019, the game appeared as part of the Switch collection alongside the original Hotline Miami. However, that version was quickly taken down.
But when Hotline 2 came out in Australia 12 months ago, fans were hopeful that things would finally be sorted out. Through PS Plus, hopeful customers can get it individually or as part of the Hotline Miami series.
It’s unclear how or why it took a full year for the issue to come to light and result in the game being removed. Somehow it seems to have slipped through the cracks of PlayStation, although the publisher must also take responsibility as they must have known it wasn’t properly rated but was still available. They may face some legal consequences. Presumably, they will have to cough up cash to refund everyone who purchased the game.
