Sony have confirmed that Heavy Rain will not go on sale in the United Arab Emirates – another one bites the dust?

Many  of us have been looking forward to Heavy Rain’s release – Team Attitude certainly have.

The game is flying high in the Metacritic ratings, despite splitting critic’s opinions.

Not everyone is happy to see it though.  Sony have released a statement saying;

“The UAE’s National Media Council (NMC) has banned Heavy Rain on PlayStation 3. Heavy Rain has an 18+ PEGI rating and has been conceived from the earliest stages as a genuinely adult experience.

This means that it deals with strong content including blood and nudity, but treats this content in a mature and sensitive manner. The game is not intentionally controversial or sensationalist, and all the themes and content are consistent with what consumers would expect to see in a mainstream Hollywood thriller.”

We think it is a real shame that the people of the UAE won’t be able to experience this epic thriller – isn’t this the type of mass censorship that encourages piracy?

And no, the irony of Heavy Rain not appearing in a desert country isn’t lost on us either.