Baldur's Gate 3 Japan release removes torture and censors explicit content

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Don’t be shocked if you see a bunch of blurred privates once the Baldur’s Gate 3 Japan version gets released. CERO, the group responsible for reviewing and rating video games sold in Japan, has strict rules regarding portrayals of violence and nudity in media. And, since Larian Studios’ popular creation is very liberal when it comes to lewd and graphic content, publisher Spike Chunsoft has revealed that they’ll be censoring certain explicit moments to comply with CERO’s guidelines.

Unfortunately, this means that if you reside in Japan and plan on playing the game, you won’t be able to see some of its more intimate scenes, which you get after a ton of maneuvering and using, say, our handy Baldur’s Gate 3 Karlach companion guide. Of course, these instances won’t be completely removed from the story, though based on Spike Chunsoft’s announcement, the display genitals, display nudity in movies, and share private time options will all be permanently turned off in the Japan release.

In addition to the heavily censored explicit content, Spike Chunsoft will also be removing the option for players “to torture NPCs in the Goblin Camp” near the game’s start due to CERO’s guidelines against portrayals of excessive violence. Fortunately, those are the only aspects of Baldur’s Gate 3 that have been affected by these rules so you should be able to enjoy the rest of the game’s sprawling world and open-ended plot as intended.

Now, the removal of explicit content in Japanese versions of video games isn’t exactly a surprise seeing as CERO’s strict guidelines have heavily influenced several AAA releases in the past, including Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher 3, and more. Though fans playing in Japan surely won’t be pleased by this news, this development is certainly par for the course based on the Southeast Asian country’s historically conservative standards.

If you’re having trouble finishing the game, check out our guides on how to save Alfira in Baldur’s Gate 3, where to find Mol in Baldur’s Gate 3, and how to help Omeluum investigate the Parasite in Baldur’s Gate 3.

About the Author

Nico Vergara is a Trends Writer for VideoGamer.com. When not writing about or playing RPGs, he spends time playing basketball, watching the latest movies, and brooding about his favorite sports teams.