The next Hunter x Hunter fighting game is expected for next year and could be in danger, at least when it comes to its release in certain countries.
Developed by Eighting and published by Bushiroad and Arc System Works (Guilty Gear), Hunter x Hunter NENxIMPACT promises to be a juicy cocktail for fans. However, the fighting game does not appear to be viewed favorably by certain classification bodies, including Australia's, which has given its verdict on it. An opinion that other countries could potentially follow.
Bad impact in Australia on the next Hunter x Hunter game
Australia, among other countries, is known for its harshness when it comes to portraying themes in cultural works. Especially when it involves violence or explicit themes, especially when it involves children. Therefore, the Australian Classification Authority vetoed Hunter x Hunter NENxIMPACT and refused to assign it an age category. This means that the title is currently not allowed to be marketed there and owning a copy of the game is punishable by a prison sentence.
As popular as it is, the Hunter x Hunter manga would highlight issues that bother the Australian government. Like, for example, the fact that children fight particularly brutally. However, this was not an obstacle for other games in the genre, such as Street Fighter 6, in whose roster the teenager Lily is particularly represented. One of the main culprits could be the clown Hisoka. In fact, in the manga he portrays behavior towards children that is ambiguous, to say the least.
Therefore, in order for developer and publisher Hunter x Hunter NENxIMPACT to have the right to land in Australia, changes are required. It is also possible that other countries will make a similar ruling to force the authors of the ruling. For now, however, the 2D fighting game should launch on PC, PS5 and Nintendo Switch in 2025 (excluding Australia and possibly other countries). As a reminder, the title was postponed until the following year in order to specifically incorporate a feature that was very popular in the genre: netcode rollback.
Source: Classification.gov.au
