ESRB Details Mature Rating for PlayStation VR Exclusive Farpoint

The Entertainment Software Rating Board released its rating summary for Farpoint, a first-person shooter developed for PlayStation VR. The game was assigned a Mature 17+ rating for its inclusion of blood and gore, strong language, and violence. The rating provided specific details on the content players would encounter in the sci-fi title.

ESRB Rating Breakdown

The ESRB’s full description clarifies the reasoning behind the Mature rating. It highlights the game’s core mechanics and graphic content. The summary stated:

“This is a VR first-person shooter in which players assume the role of a crash survivor on an alien planet. Players use assault rifles, shotguns, and plasma rifles to shoot and kill hostile alien creatures and robotic enemies. Battles are accompanied by realistic gunfire and large explosions. Blood-splatter effects occur when enemies are shot; some attacks result in dismemberment and/or decapitation, leaving creatures’ body parts and bloodstains on the ground. The words ‘f**k’ and ‘sh*t’ are heard in the dialogue.”

This level of detail confirmed that the game would not shy away from graphic depictions of combat. The inclusion of dismemberment and decapitation, even against alien creatures, is a significant factor in the “Blood and Gore” descriptor. The specific mention of expletives justifies the “Strong Language” warning.

Gameplay and Premise

Farpoint was first announced during Sony’s press conference at the 2016 Electronic Entertainment Expo. The game’s narrative places the player in the role of a survivor who has crash-landed on a dangerous alien world. The primary objective is to explore the environment, search for other survivors, and ultimately find a way back home. This journey involves traversing hazardous landscapes and confronting hostile alien lifeforms.

To survive, players have access to a variety of futuristic weapons, including plasma rifles, assault rifles, shotguns, and railguns. The gameplay is centered on first-person shooter combat, designed to be an immersive experience within the virtual reality headset. The conflict involves not only organic alien creatures but also hostile robotic enemies, requiring different tactical approaches.

Cooperative Play and PS VR Aim Controller

In addition to its single-player story campaign, Farpoint was developed with a two-player online cooperative mode. This mode allows two players to team up and face the challenges of the alien planet together, adding a layer of replayability and social interaction to the experience.

Farpoint was also the flagship title for the PlayStation VR Aim Controller, a new peripheral designed to launch alongside the game. This controller, shaped like a gun, was created to offer a more intuitive and one-to-one tracking experience for VR shooters. It was marketed as the ideal way to play the game, enhancing the feeling of aiming and firing the in-game weapons. The game was planned to be sold both as a standalone product and in a bundle with the Aim Controller.

The game was scheduled for release in North America on May 16, 2017, as a key exclusive for the PlayStation VR platform.