Games get banned in countries all the time, usually Germany who are still quite sensitive to certain things. This time, it’s about Tropico 5 which apparently has content considered inappropriate for the current situation in Thailand.
Thailand, a place which will jail you for life or even send you to death row for bringing drugs into the country, where ladyboys are a thing, you can get fined $600 if you dispose of your chewing gum in public and whatever you do, remember to put your underwear on or you’ll face jail.
“We are disappointed to hear that Tropico 5 will not be released in Thailand.” commented Simon Hellwig, Global Managing Director Kalypso Media Group. “Tropico 3 and 4 both enjoyed successful releases in the country and although the Tropico brand does have a realistic political element to it, the scenarios and content are all delivered with a certain trademark tongue in cheek humour.”
As usual, it all comes down to something political and as said by Kalypso Media’s Thailand distributor, New Era, it’s only because of the current situation. Maybe in the near future when the situation has lifted, Tropico 5 will have distribution access, but unfortunately for now, it’s not possible.
Stefan Marcinek, Global Managing Director, Kalypso Media Group added “Our distributor has been working hard to gain approval for the release, but it seems that the Board of Film and Video Censors deem some of the content too controversial for their consumers. This does sound like it could have come from one of El Presidente’s own edicts from the game.”
The Tropic 4 DLC, Junta had content which mirrored a similar situation to what Thailand is experiencing at the moment, so with a subject so sensitive, it’s understandable why the latest ‘dictator sim’ has been refused distribution.