Reloaded PS5 Release Canceled in One Region

Summary

Gears of War: Reloaded won’t release on PS5 in Japan due to rating restrictions and policies.
Fans are disappointed as the PS5 version includes Pro-exclusive enhancements that Japanese players can’t access now.
Xbox, PC, and Steam versions of the game will still launch in Japan, adding to the confusion.

Microsoft announces that Gears of War: Reloaded‘s PS5 version won’t be released in Japan. This isn’t the first time the franchise has had to cancel a launch in the region. In 2015, the original Gears of War remaster, Ultimate Edition, was also forced to postpone its release in Japan due to legal conflicts. A decade later, the franchise’s second attempt at remastering the first title appears to be running into similar issues, though this time, only PS5 players are affected.

Fans are currently awaiting the Gears of War: Reloaded multiplayer beta, set to begin on June 14. The playtest will be available to anyone who has pre-ordered the game on any platform, as well as Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers. But as players prepare to check out the first round of multiplayer deathmatches, a section of the fanbase has been met with some disappointing news.

Gears of War: Reloaded is Coming to PS5, Release Date Announced

The original Gears of War game is making a comeback, and this time, it’s making its way to Xbox competitor PlayStation 5 as well.

According to Xbox Wire, the PS5 edition of Gears of War: Reloaded failed to meet regional rating restrictions and platform policies in Japan. As a result, the remaster will skip PlayStation on August 27, when it’s set to release globally. What makes the news particularly disappointing is that Gears of War: Reloaded includes PS5 Pro-exclusive enhancements, features now out of reach for Japanese fans. Interestingly, the Xbox, PC, and Steam versions are still set to launch in Japan as planned, making the situation all the more puzzling.

Gears of War: Reloaded May Be Too Gory for the Japanese Fanbase

Due to regional rating restrictions and platform policies, Gears of War: Reloaded will not be released for PlayStation 5 in Japan.

Japan’s video game age rating system has often been criticized for double standards. For instance, Stellar Blade was approved for players aged 17 and up, while CERO, the country’s main rating board, refused to rate the Dead Space remake entirely due to its violent content. That said, Stellar Blade has shown a willingness to censor its content, which might explain how it secured a rating in gore- and violence-averse Japan. Regardless, it seems Gears of War: Reloaded is entangled in the same controversial red tape that once affected the Dead Space remake.

Given the success of previous Xbox-published titles on PS5, it’s likely that Gears of War: Reloaded will be a well-received game on Sony’s platform. Oblivion Remastered recently topped the PS5 charts in the US, and Forza Horizon 5 also attracted strong interest from PlayStation players. Considering this, it’s unfortunate that Xbox and PlayStation haven’t been able to reach an agreement with the regulators to bring Gears of War: Reloaded to the PS5 in Japan.