Apple rejecting games screenshots depicting weapons or violence

Friday 13 February 2015
Pocket Gamer reports that according to several computer developers to review the implementation of Apple has been rejecting games and updates, including screenshots that show violence as people holding guns, being maimed or killed.

This is forcing developers to either eliminate such screenshots or even delete the image to hide weapons or things that could represent violence. As Pocket Gamer notes, Splash Damage, developers Tempo, which was chosen as Editor's Choice by Apple, had to clear up arms to hide the screen.


Similarly, Team Choas, developer vs. Rooster Teeth Zombiens had to change its icon, because in the original icon of the hero held a pistol NES Zapper.


Marco Arment, developer of Instapaper and Claro, says that this is not a new rule. According to App Store guidelines all application metadata such as title, description, icon and screenshots have to adhere to 4+ age rating.

The App Store has parental controls and requires that all applications that support content classifications appropriate to their age. While violence, etc. always been allowed in applications, Apple has always required that all application metadata - title, description, icon, screen capture - are childproof with the lowest rating.

Here is the clause 3.6 of the guidelines application in the Apple store:

Applications with application icons, images and previews that do not adhere to the classification of 4+ will be rejected

So it seems that Apple has begun implementing the much stricter guideline. But Jim Dalrymple of The Loop, Apple reports that spoke about this today, and was told that "the company is being more liberal lately with what is allowed in the App Store for images and screenshots."

Seems like a reasonable requirement that the App Store is accessible by people of all ages, but the problem seems to be inconsistency in the application.

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