Upcoming Windows 8 Marketplace won’t have ‘R’ rated games — wise move?

Update – Microsoft has decided to renege on its initial plan and will now sell “R” rated games on Windows 8 Marketplace. The reason for the change lies with the ambiguity on regional rating systems. The US uses a ESRP-rating system as apposed to the PEGI-rating system adopted by Europe.

This difference caused a bit of confusion for developers and users alike and has now been resolved. As far as “R” rated content goes, the Windows 8 marketplace deems it to be adult/pornographic content. The above listed titles as well as future releases will now be available for download.

Sorry, but no GTA:San Andreas sex mini-game for you.

Kotaku is reporting that the Windows 8 Marketplace, launching 26 October will not sell apps with a rating above PEGI 16. Basically all the good stuff then. It was believed, when the App Certification Requirements were first outlined, that the rating would only apply to apps, not gaming titles.

Wrong, it does and has quite a few people up in arms, particularly game developers. Now don’t get it twisted, you can still play as many gratuitously bloody and violent games as you want on Windows 8 devices. You’re just unable to download them from Microsoft.

Kotaku released a list of games that won’t be available on Marketplace:

• The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim
• The Witcher II
• Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
• Max Payne 3
• The Walking Dead
• Sleeping Dogs
• Dishonored
• Mass Effect 2
• Mass Effect 3
• LA Noire
• Spec Ops: The Line
• Fallout: New Vegas
• Deus Ex
• Assassin’s Creed: Revelations

When we took a look at this, it seemed like a compilation of the top titles from last year. We fear that Microsoft have truly shot itself in the foot on this one. We wonder how the hardcore PC gamer set will react?