A Sony representative said that the company never planned to release Rise of the Ronin in South Korea
Yesterday, gaming media reported that the action game Rise of the Ronin will not be released in South Korea, allegedly due to historical contradictions between Japan and Korea.
It was supposed that the mention of Japanese scientist and political figure Yoshida Shōin in the game caused a negative reaction among Korean gamers, and Sony decided not to make concessions and cancelled the sale of the game in this country.
But, as it turned out, it's not quite like that.
Here's What We Know
In a conversation with IGN journalists, a Sony representative confirmed that Rise of the Ronin will not be released in South Korea in either physical or digital edition. But the project was never planned to be released in this market!
However, two facts contradict this:
- The Korean review board has given Rise of the Ronin an age rating.
- The PS Store lists the game as having a Korean localisation.
Sony may have once planned to release Rise of the Ronin in South Korea, but for some reason changed its mind.
It can't be ruled out that the cancellation is indeed due to the historical context of the game, as there have been many contentious and heavy moments between Japan and Korea before. But only Sony can tell the truth.
When We Can Expect It
Rise of the Ronin will release on 22 March 2024 on PS5.
Source: IGN