‘Thief 4’ strong sexual content, nudity, and more detailed for PS4, Xbox One

The ESRB has rated Thief for PS4, Xbox One, and PC detailing the game's sexual sequences, nudity, and drug use.

[Aleithian]

I'm sure it all advances the story and deepens the characters.

/s

[curtis92]

Yeah I mean there definitely wasn't some crazy stuff going on in those days. Just a nice, quiet era with some thieving on the side.

[Aleithian]

I fail to see what that has to do with anything. IF, on the off chance, this does add something to the game, then fair enough. But if it's just pointless and gratuitous sexual content, then I'm not interested. So far, I'm not impressed by what I've seen of this game. Adding a layer of sexual antics won't contribute to the gameplay, and certainly won't make up for a poor story if in fact the story is of poor quality.

So you see, I'm not objecting to sexual content as such - a glance at my past comments on this site should confirm that. The sexual content in Mass Effect/The Witcher/Dragon Age contributes to the story/characters, for instance. I'm objecting to the potential use of sexual content to make an otherwise boring game "palatable."

[FriedGoat]

Thief 1 was a genre defining masterpiece. I remember hooking up my first surround sound setup with my sound blaster sound card, the directional audio was amazing and the conversations the guards had made you feel like you were in a living world at the time. I enjoyed thief 2, but after that it started going down hill.

I really can't see what sexual content is going to add to this game. But something in me wishes this could live up to the first 2 games.

[Ratty]

It doesn't advance story or deepen characters when it happens in real life but it still happens in real life.

[Lord_Sloth]

People also poop, belch, and fart frequently in real life, doesn't mean it has to be all over my games.

[starchild]

Good point, Lord_Sloth. Although I would argue that sexuality is a lot more pleasant than the things you listed.

I don't know, maybe it's just me, but I would rather have naked women and sex in my games than those other bodily functions.

[starchild]

It's appropriate for any game with mature themes. It's not like that stuff doesn't exist in real life.

[KillrateOmega]

Sex, drugs, language, graphics scenes, etc. can all be found in real life. Personally, having them in a game makes it easier for me to immerse myself into the experience. It's more realistic. I also appreciate the fact that the developers aren't afraid to treat you like an adult.

If it is done well, then I have absolutely no problem with it.

[Aleithian]

Maybe you didn't intend your comment as an objection to me, or maybe you did. But in either case, your last sentence pretty much sums up my posts on this topic. IF it's done "well", THEN I have no problem with it. The problems lies in what constitutes "well".

I object to companies throwing in sexual content - or drugs, foul language, etc - just for the sake of it. When that's done in a way that doesn't contribute to the game, it detracts from the game. I cited examples above of cases in which sexual content contributes. I also expect Quiet's overt sexuality will contribute to MGS5, given Kojima's past of using sexuality effectively. Similarly, drugs and foul language contribute to GTA V and other games. But just throwing nudity and sex into a game about thieving...We'll see. If they do it well, that is, if it contributes to the game, then I'm all for it. But I'm concerned that it won't.

[KillrateOmega]

My comment wasn't meant to be an objection. No, it wasn't meant to be more of an attempt at introducing and explaining an alternate way of looking at the situation.

I agree with your concern. Throwing in nudity and drug use just for cheap, shock value is lazy and tasteless. If it is done well, then I liken it to reading a good novel: the nudity, language, drugs, etc. don't exactly add to the plot, but they do lend the novel a certain atmosphere that I can appreciate.

For me, it being done well involves it all coming off as a casual/natural experience, you know? It shouldn't draw excessive attention to itself.

[Aleithian]

We're essentially in agreement then. It's nice to read a thoughtful comment, rather than knee-jerk outpourings from people who misunderstand my comments.

[jessupj]

Guess my stuck in the past, incopetent, Australia will be banning this game.

I can shoot as many civilians in gtav as I want, but heaven forbid I see digital titties. We can't have that now, can we?

[SilentNegotiator]

Thieving Tom, coming soon. lol

[Am_Ryder]

Did you read the article?

**** VERY MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD FOR ONE PROBABLY IRRELEVANT LOCATION****

They specify it's a brothel scenario. Just some topless ladies walking around and moaning noises and your standard sexual language. Sounds like stuff similar to what we should have seen in Dishonored- had Arkane not kept the vulgarity restricted just to violence, probably to keep the ratings down.

The nudity in this Thief game is nothing to do with the story or tittilation. The comparison to Mass Effect/ The Witcher etc., all of which I love, is totally moot. There's no arbitrary plot influence, that you're so scared of, here.

Thief has always been a pretty gritty series, and if sexuality in the environment adds to the milieux, all the better for it. You're bashing this as if Thief was another brainless FPS. It's the makers of Deus Ex: HR who are developing this, so at least trust them with a modicombe of intelligence. (Though I'm not without my own fears, too.)

[Aleithian]

You have clearly not read or understood my comments. I'm not "afraid" of such content, nor is my comparison moot. I present a hypothetical - IF it serves no purpose, THEN I disagree with it's inclusion. Hence, IF it genuinely conveys dimensions of characterization and/or atmosphere, THEN I have no problem with it.

That the nudity takes place in a brothel is irrelevant. Why include a brothel in the first place? Again, IF it serves some clear purpose, THEN I'm fine with it. But if the brothel was included just to justify boobs, then I object (in the sense, to get contextual, that I'm tired of the needless inclusion of sexual content in EVERYTHING we play/watch/listen to - I have no problem with sexuality as such, but I have a problem with the dilution of entertainment in the name of boobs).

[JohnnyTower]

I hope they don't mean we will see Garret's wang...

[Moragami]

I don't know, if done in FPS view, looking down and seeing your "blackjack" unsheathed would be pretty hilarious.

[PixelNinja]

we've seen plenty of tits in games, it would only balance the flow of naked body parts in video games.

lol.

[sobekflakmonkey]

dude...Outlast, you see a bunch of dicks in that game...like...a lot...now name one game in which you've seen a vagina? lol

[nerdeu]

I'd like to see Garrett polish his jewels ...

[Scatpants]

Strong sexual content is my favorite kind.

[DOMination-]

This game has a whiff of the ryse about it. 6/10 at best.

[starchild]

I don't get that feeling at all. I bet it will score mostly 8 and above.

[JohnnyTower]

Come on guy, ryse was supposed be on 360, then kinect, and finally on X1. It was a rollercoaster to say the least. The team behind thief also made deus ex which was a great game. I wouldn't compare those 2 games anyways.

[MysticStrummer]

Why do you say that? Thief wasn't a 360 Kinect title that was converted to XB1 to pad the launch lineup. Thief was always AAA and it's been in development for a good long while but not long enough to make fun of it. Looks can be deceiving at times of course but it looks good to me.

[Shane Kim]

First day.

[il-JumperMT]

What if you had a female companion that distracted people sexually while you steal :O

[Onixg5mer]

Sex sells (--)

[Sketchy_Galore]

Yeah I've been reading up on this, it's an odd design choice. Apparently he's no longer interested in jewels and gold, he's now a virginity thief. It's a bold choice but I'm not sure how well it'll work just yet.

[Akuma2K]

This game is the closest i'm going to get to ninja game concerning the stealth aspect like in the Tenchu series (just a different time period between the two games), can't wait to play the game (been pre-ordered and paid off since nov/dec).

[JasonXS12]

What about Dishonored?

[starchild]

Dishonored was good, but I have a feeling Thief is going to be better. Maybe not get better scores, but be a better game to me.

[Akuma2K]

I never played dishonored.

[Logak]

Why not play the original Thief games? (The Dark Project, The Metal Age and Deadly Shadows) They are easily the greatest stealth games of all time, and boast a much more realistic stealth system.
By the way, just in case you don't know (most don't). Dishonored was inspired by the Thief games, the developers said themselves it was to be a spiritual successor to the original games.

[Lamigol10]

If it's as good as Dishonoured I'll be very happy ... one of my fave games of 2013 !
I will probably buy it to keep me busy till Titanfall / Driveclub release.
My guess / gut feeling is that Thief will average 7's ... I quite like the idea and look of it but hands on reports suggest it may be a little lacklustre in the A.I. dept !
We'll see soon enough ! Hope it's decent

[Double_O_Revan]

I'm guessing this confirms some kind of brothel.

[KillrateOmega]

One of the reasons that I loved Witcher 2 was because it was a mature game made for a mature audience. I didn't treat you like a kid. It treated you like an adult. Sex, drugs, language, graphic scenes, etc. are all a part of reality. Having them in a game only makes it that much easier to immerse myself into the experience...that is, if it is done well.

This news has only made me more excited for the game.

[LakerGamerEnthusiast]

Hmm a stealth, ninja, open world like-game? I think I'm going to pick this game up!

I mean, it's not like anything else is dragging me in... I like ninjas :)

Haha. nah really though, I had an open eye for this ever since I read about it. I hope its good.

[Akuma2K]

I would love to see the Tenchu series return on PS4, the graphics and player models would be incredible.

[CrossingEden]

It better have actual context because random and unnecessary nudity can seriously ruin the atmosphere of a great game, remember metro last light?

[bjmartynhak]

Reading the comments here it is clear as day that the hype is still low...

It is about time to give something more concrete. The gameplay we saw is a bit old by now.

[Gasian]

these are some of my favorite things

[CELLA]

why do we need this sexual content, nudity in a game are we making kids in to a sexual Predator now
i just want a fun games with out a lot of bloods and gore and sex what are we feeding are kids with

[MilkMan]

If its for the betterment of the game then great. I don't see a problem with it. It is rated M, not G.
Now show me some damn gameplay footage.