Horror games are intended to shock and scare players. Some games go to extremes to accomplish this goal, including incredibly violent or unsettling experiences. Like in film, sometimes games can cross into territory where censorship is demanded by platform holders. Such is the case for the upcoming horror gameMartha is Dead, developed by LKA and published by Wired Productions.Martha is Deadis confirmed to be censored onPlayStationplatforms due to restrictions from Sony.
The announcement was shared by Wired Productions on Twitter. The team says that it is “with regret” thatMartha is Deadwill be modified for both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. While Wired Productions doesn’t specify what content has been cut, it does make clear that it includes “elements” of the game that will no longer be playable. Wired also doesn’t explicitly state that Sony forced the censorship, but there’s no reason to believe otherwise.
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The need to censorMartha is Deaddoes, unfortunately, have ramifications for thehorror game’s launch on PS4 and PS5. While the digital version ofMartha is Deadwill be able to be completed by launch, the physical editions for PS4 and PS5 are going to have to be delayed. A new release date for PS4 and PS5 physical editions ofMartha is Deadhas not been confirmed, but Wired says it expects the delay to be a “small number of weeks.
LKA andWired Productionsare clearly unhappy with the situation. It characterizes the need to make these changes as “unplanned” extra time required after “four years of passion and hard work.” Further, Wired describes how it has always been open and transparent regarding the fact thatMartha is Deadis intended for adults only. Further, it says the content is even flagged “clearly and repeatedly” in-game before it occurs.
What it sounds like is that Sony made a last-minute decision regarding the content inMartha is Deadthat Wired and LKA had been transparent about throughout the development process. It’s unclear what made Sony decide that thehorror gameneeded to be censored with just weeks left before launch or why it delayed that decision. Perhaps it underestimated how impacting the now-censored scenes would be in motion.
For those curious, Wired has confirmed that only the PlayStation versions ofMartha is Deadwill be censored. ThePC and Xbox versions ofMartha is Deadwill remain uncensored, true to LKA’s vision for the project. Horror game fans should be prepared for some serious content.
Martha is Deadreleases February 24 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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