'Manhunt 2' finally wins UK release

Today, in the end of one of the longest legal dramas video gaming has ever seen, Manhunt 2 has been finally granted a classification certificate in the UK.

The game was originally slated for launch in the country on 13 July, but was refused a certificate by the British Board of Film Classification, the UK's ratings body because of "unremitting bleakness", and "sustained and cumulative casual sadism". The move made it illegal to sell the game in the UK, effectively banning the title.

Developers Rockstar responded by re-submitting an edited version of the game, which was granted release in the US and many European countries, but this was also refused a classification. The Grand Theft Auto-maker then decided to appeal the decision by taking it the BBFC's Video Appeals Committee, a panel of seven independent judges, who reversed the decision and recommended the game be granted an 18 certificate.

Soon after, the BBFC took the unprecedented move of taking the case to the High Court, as it believed that there had been a misinterpretation of the law. The judge agreed, and then sent the decision back to the VAC to reconsider along the newly set guidelines.

Today, seven weeks after the last events in the case, and some nine months after the game was first banned, Manhunt 2 has finally been granted a release in the UK.

According to a statement from the BBFC, "In the light of legal advice, the Board does not believe the VAC's judgement provides a realistic basis for further challenge to its decision and has accordingly issued an 18 certificate."

BBFC director David Cooke explained, "As I have said previously, we never take rejection decisions lightly, and they always involve a complex balance of considerations. We twice rejected Manhunt 2, and then pursued a judicial review challenge, because we considered, after exceptionally thorough examination, that it posed a real potential harm risk. However, the Video Appeals Committee has again exercised its independent scrutiny. It is now clear, in the light of this decision, and our legal advice, that we have no alternative but to issue an 18 certificate to the game."

A spokesperson from Rockstar said a comment on the decision would be coming later in the day.