Doom will be releasing uncensored in Germany, according to publisher Bethesda Softworks. Surprisingly, this makes it the first title in the Doom franchise to make it to Germany in its uncensored, uncut form.
According to Polygon, Doom games were forced to be cut in order to release legally in Germany. The original two Doom games, Doom and Doom II: Hell on Earth were banned in Germany due to the country’s Federal Department for Media Harmful to Young Persons. Bethesda successfully appealed the ban in August 2011, resulting in those original games being available for purchase in their original, uncensored forms.
According to Bethesda’s Vice President of Marketing Pete Hines, this is not particularly surprising news keeping in mind how similar titles have been rated recently. Fallout 4, another Bethesda product released uncut, which allowed Bethesda to appeal Germany to reconsider the ban on the worldwide version of Fallout 3. That game became delisted only last week.
Perhaps this reboot of Doom marks a fresh start for German fans of the franchise, one without censorship getting in the way of blood and gibs flying off the screen.
Doom comes out on May 13. On the Xbox One, the game comes with Doom 1 and Doom 2 free of charge, but only if pre-ordered.