The Last of Us Part 2 Is Reportedly Banned In Middle East, Here's Why

The Last of Us Part 2 is one of the most anticipated games of this year and it might not get an official release at all in the Middle East.

[coolbeans]

Let's be honest: you could anticipate this when Ellie displayed romantic affection with another woman during that old gameplay trailer.

[ilikestuff]

They’re more level head then I thought. Well played middle easterners

[LoveSpuds]

Let me take a wild stab in the dark here....... You are for freedom of speech and freedom of expression, unless it is used to express things you don't like? I assume you are fine with the practice of executing people for being gay, as is the case in Saudi, or do you only go as far as believing in censorship?

[bouzebbal]

@LoveSpuds: freedom of speech, yes.. not freedom of immorality.
yesterday i saw a picture where som "activists" under name LGBTP.. P stands for pedosexual. Shall we allow that to become normal under freedom of speech? You would, according to what you just wrote.. and if you won't, which i strongly hope, then you should review your definition of freedom of speech.
We need to stay humans, and morality is what dissociates us from animals..

The guy says well played middleeasterns, he has the freedom to say so.

[ravinash]

Morality is just a word people throw round to justify persecuting people who don't look or act the same why they do.
One person simply being who they are causing offence to another simple because of their existence.

As for the Pedosexual thing, don't be sick.
It has nothing to do with LGBTQ.
That's just sick people trying to pin their own sick agenda to another group to try and justify them selves.
Whether that Pedos trying to justify them selves, or some hate group trying to claim gay people are pedos and in so doing justify their hate.

Don't believe everything you read on the internet.
instead, try to talk to these people and learn who they are.... their not trying to turn you gay.

[LucasRuinedChildhood]

I'm sorry to tell you this but a guy who is genuinely turned off by two women kissing is at a high risk of being extremely gay. If you like how gays are treated in the Middle East, then you just need to show up at the town center and the rest of N4G will go grab some stones.

[bouzebbal]

@ravinash
"As for the Pedosexual thing, don't be sick."
definitely agree, but those sick people will think that you aren't open minded and they have right of freedom of speech too.. freedom of speech is relative, and can have terrible consequences. you cannot just throw in with this word to justify anything. people will always have their own way of thinking.

[ravinash]

@ bouzebbal
That is true.
They are welcome to say these thing because when they do, we'll know who they are and people can then protect their children from them.

The important thing to remember is that just because someone says I'm with that group, does not man that the group agrees with that person.

[LoveSpuds]

@bouzebbal
What a rediculous comment. I am not American, so don't know your constitution as well as you might, but I assume that freedom of speech means just that, you are free to express yourself in anyway you see fit within the bounds of the law and be free from censure, but that does not protect you absolutely from the consequences of what you say or do.

If you break the law, such as is the case with paedophilia then you will rightfully be punished, obviously. It is frankly disgusting to suggest that people with different sexual orientations and identities who fall under the LGBT umbrella would empathise with or share anything in common with individuals with an illegal and vile sexual deviancy.

[ilikestuff]

I was saying they’re levelheaded because they’re banning a game that’s going to be crap. Unlike druckman I’d prefer to keep my political and social views out of my video games, I mean, aren’t we all trying to unwind, relax, and escape from real life with video games?

[Starman69]

It would be best censored, but keep swearing in the game. It's setting a bad example for young, undeveloped, impressionable, and fragile minds 👍. If we can bring this to TV and Facebook, we're half way there to sorting out the bonkers and clueless generation we live in.

[Rhythmattic]

ilikestuff
"Unlike druckman I’d prefer to keep my political and social views out of my video games"
As I may in films and life, or Even people on gaming forums........Mwhahahaha...
No go at anybody... but Fk..... Everybody..
. and i mean EVERYBODY , Drink some Cement and Harden the Fk UP....
Its your grey matter, it gives you the ability to question, but to not ask, nor reasonable or understand what is truth.. Everyone IS Someone. Agree , Disagree.. But to be in a situation where like democracy, the numbers win? Its no different to any other system... The only difference is in Communism , Solcialism and capitalism, The people are controlled trough different means...
And here it is.. A person being whom or what they are (LBGT.. Not the Peod's I happily run them over) at least know who they want to be, and try to find themselves, and when the western society, and the numbers are against tham, well , its generally religion, and religion is the evil of all social engineering.
You are lucky or Unlucky where you where introduced into this realm.
Everything since your birth , leads you to where you are....
Some people remain Staunch on their beliefs, buy why? Yours are yours. Theirs are Theirs...
And its only because of numbers, A dogma, Instilled , taught, V\oting the same as your parents... Left or Right... The one God that Blesses amaeriocsa......A democracy, you believe it.
Freedom of speech is being eroded, as is Freedom of your person...

Anyway.. Not read anything about the game.. Trying to stay spoiler free....

So back to doing some music.

Cheers

Its simple. Dont make life a debate. There should never be a For or Against...
Thats when the mind loses critical thinking g

[Sprucegoose77]

Yes girls kissing is bad but executing kids and wedding children is fine! They sure got their shit straight!

[Auron]

So what?

[Sono421]

Censorship of content because of gay/trans characters "So what?"

Are you kidding? I've been critical of this game because of the terrible plot and writing, but this is a complete joke.

No one should just accept censorship of this magnitude. This is backwards thinking.

[gold_drake]

get over it.
some games are banned for different reasons. is it stupid? absolutely but there nothing you or anyone else can do.

censorship in general is pretty stupid

[Sono421]

@curtain_swoosh
ah yes the good old, nothing we can do so just accept it. you'll live a good life with that mindset.

I can only imagine what you would be like as a slave way back in the day, I guess in a way people with your mindset are the modern day slave

[Zarock]

That's what happens when you force your agendas down people's throats it gets banned and you lose money.

[ilikestuff]

Sono421

Cultures accept things in their own times. Just be thankful that you can criticize what you want without getting shortened by a head. (George rr Martin reference)

And I’ve been agreeing with you from the start about this games story, I know they’ve only released a small amount of the game but they were giant moments. This game is going to break more hearts than hideo did with mgs 2.

[Auron]

The way you feel wont change a countries views.

[RazzerRedux]

"ah yes the good old, nothing we can do so just accept it."

And what are you "doing" besides yapping about it? Nothing. Get over there and "do" something about it and then you can yapp about people being "modern day slaves" all you want. Until then, you are just talking and doing nothing.

[azizlksa1]

Its their country, their law. None of your business.

[StormSnooper]

I like watching right wing conservatives twist and turn to differentiate themselves from the Middle East conservatives. Up until now it was “game bad because gay” now it’s “I’m all for free speech, because Middle East goes too far”. They would like to censor by shaming ideas different from their own, but if Muslims do it too, just more effectively, “that bad”.

Fact: Conservatives don’t have a clue how similar they are to their counterparts whom they hate.

[gamer7804]

Too bad just banned there lol. I’m just kidding. People should be free to play games no matter how terribly they are written :)

[ClayRules2012]

Terribly written...I don’t believe so. Regardless of leaks/disappointment in how it all ends, how about waiting for reviews to come out and fans who buy the game and give their opinions on it, to hit to have a clearer & better understanding of the quality of the games writing.

[S2Killinit]

@gamer
The only difference between us and the middle east is that in the middle east people like you get to control the rules and dictate their beliefs on the rest of us. Thank GOD for Naughty Dog and anyone who expresses their freedom of speech in their art.

[Sono421]

He made a joke and here you are taking it seriously, modern day leftists in a nutshell...

[LucasRuinedChildhood]

@Sono421
You may feel that political correctness has gone too far, but you're forgetting that most comedians, writers and genuinely funny people are leftists to begin with.

I googled "right-wing comedians" to look for some outliers but there's just articles bemoaning the fact that right-wing comedians don't exist which is even more dire than I thought. A lack of right wing comedy is not exactly a recent phenomenon either. It's hard to be funny if you have a more orthodox, conservative mindset.

[gamer7804]

Exactly what sono said. It was a joke, I strongly believe in the freedom to create what you want, regardless if most people will like it or not, the market will determine that

[S2Killinit]

@gamer, Sono
Except that my comment was directed at the entirety of your statement bemoaning how “terrible” the story is, and your “joke” wasn't really just a joke (hopefully you have better sense of humor than that)

Why is the story terrible? Because you dont like what they had to say. This is exactly the mindset of conservatives everywhere including the M.E. “I dont agree with it, so its an agenda”

YOU are the one who cant just enjoy a story because of your political mindset, and cant keep his political opinions to himself. Yet I’M the one who takes things too seriously, right?

[gamer7804]

/s2killinit

Sorry but I can only go off of evidence that I have, Not evidence that I don’t have. I would happily like to be proven wrong in this case.

I don’t have time or want to spread spoilers or list all of the things that are wrong with this game. But the overall disrespect to its characters and audience is a start.

[Sono421]

Woah guys look out, the humor police are here. Coming from the guy who was insinuating you're homophobic/transphobic a truly toxic individual. Also assumes you don't like the game because of certain sexualities even though you clearly say bad writing is the issue. What is wrong with this guy? He interprets things so wrongly... it's like he wants to see a bigot in everyone, such a sad toxic person.

Not to mention he accuses you of bringing politics into this when he is actually the one who did that.. like seriously what is going on in S2's head?

[BlackTar187]

Hey Lucas,

The Comedians used to be leftists and still are leftists of 10yrs ago but they are no longer leftists. The crazy left has taken over and now the normal liberal doesn't have a home on the left anymore. So now all these "Leftist" comedians are far-right nazis lol.

":I googled "right-wing comedians" to look for some outliers but there's just articles bemoaning the fact that right-wing comedians don't exist which is even more dire than I thought. A lack of right wing comedy is not exactly a recent phenomenon either. It's hard to be funny if you have a more orthodox, conservative mindset."
FYI - I'll take Norm Mcdonald and Tim Allen over most of the leftist comedians anyday.

^^ There is so much cringe and LOL at this. The left has no humor all the humor is now on the right. There would be more right-wing comedians if the left actually didn't try and silence and shut down everything that hurts their pooooor little feelings. But hey you still have Sarah Silverman and Jimmy Kimmel hahahha

[generic-user-name]

Be ready to bury your head in the sand when the 10s roll in.

[gamer7804]

scores do not matter to me in regards if i will like a game or not (its beneficial for sales sure), what is true about a game matters to me, and if that affects how i feel about a game. I would expect certain sites and influencers to give it high ratings while others give it a low rating. for example, i would expect kindafunnygames to rate it fairly high while i would expect angry joe to rate it fairly negatively.

[Mulletino]

As if any major reviewing body would have the guts to not give this a game below a 9. It would be a media massacre.

[generic-user-name]

@Mulletino

Ah there it is, nice to see you've created a scenario for yourself where if the game reviews well, it's because of gutless journos and if it does badly I suppose that is what it deserves.

There is no room in your world for this game being good, nice work.

[zsquaresoff]

Yea saw the writing on the wall when the game was not available to pre-order from the store here in Dubai. Regardless, there are ways to get this game and it'll be in my Ps4 system tray day 1.

[MagusreaperX]

Fair isnt it?
Senran kagura and Hiperdimention Neptunia is banned in UK.
This is banned in middle east.
Enjoy your censorshop.

[LoveSpuds]

I am not sure that sexualisation of children and being gay are the same thing to be fair.

[MagusreaperX]

And Im sure the middle east have different standards than what you are are sure of. And they dont have to conform to your standards.

[CoLD FiRE]

Funnily enough, neither Senran Kagura nor Neptunia are banned in Saudi Arabia or UAE. They even have regional pricing on Steam!

I would rather have TLOU2 banned than those games. If it were up to me, none of these games (including TLOU2) would be banned anywhere.

[Sophisticated_Chap]

The Middle East hasn't modernized their societies when it comes to women's rights, so this shouldn't be a surprise.

[victorMaje]

Where in the Middle East? Many countries there...

[Sophisticated_Chap]

Yes, there certainly are...

[mike32UK]

His point exactly

[TheColbertinator]

Or anyone's rights for that matter. Worship or establishment of other religions besides Islam are outright banned in the Arabian peninsula. Many punishments are unbelievably cruel like prison, torture or execution.

Atheism is also seen as unforgivable to their conservative societies.

[Zarock]

Let me stop you there buddy. There are plenty of Churches, Hindu temple's etc.. in the Arabian peninsula. You definitely don't know what your talking about.

Stop spreading misinformation.

[LoveSpuds]

Zarock, these countries discriminate against diffent Muslim belief systems, let alone completely different faiths.

Saudi, for example, view all citizens as muslim by default and the Christian communities are largely based around foreign nationals who are working there. They are not allowed to practice faith openly and things like bibles and religious symbols are prohibited.

Not that I care about religion mind you, it's all the stuff of fantasy as far as I am concerned...but atheism is equally prohibited in Saudi too.

[sho0ok360]

Do you guys live in a bubble or something?

[Kabaneri]

Clash of civilizations.

[victorMaje]

Available in Lebanon. Probably also available in Israel/Palestine.
Title should read "in some Middle Eastern countries".
Better journalism should find out which countries the game is banned in. That’s like saying weed is illegal in Europe because it is in some European countries.

[matan]

It's obviously available in israel which is by far the most gay friendly country in the region, but i'm pretty sure you wont be able to buy it on some video games store in the Palestinian territories when you consider the fact the being gay is not legal there lol... in the west bank it's punishable by up to 10 years in prison by the Fatah/PLO government and in the Gaza strip it's punishable by death by the hamas government. so yeah, saying israel/palestine like it's the same thing is misleading and ignorant at best, i mean even arab "palestine" is not one entity.

[Atticus_finch]

"Religion poisons everything"

[TeamIcoFan]

https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[Zarock]

https://youtu.be/H04TCVKvbL...

[Kabaneri]

Not always.
Religion provides a moral code to abide by..... something many people in the West desperately need.

[Atticus_finch]

Anyone who dares to say that hasn't read the Bible.

[jamezmyerz]

Thank You! The religion is sound, it's up to the people to follow that moral code.

[Elda]

Which most is man made up for an agenda.

[Atticus_finch]

I highly recommend any writing from Christopher Hitchens. Or any of his debates.

[Zarock]

Mohammad Hijab says hi you don't stand a chance.

[Snakefist30]

and he is dead rotting in hell.

[Atticus_finch]

Snakefist30
He lives forever through out all his work. 😉

[CoLD FiRE]

Which one? Conservatism? Liberalism? Communism? Atheism?
Because as far as I'm concerned, these are all religions basically disguised as "politics".

Hell, if you look at the current Liberal "woke" movement it might as well be ISIS with the way they're shoving their agendas down our throats.

[Atticus_finch]

All religions are original forms of government and like anything we did the first time, it is the worst.
Weird because liberals aren't the ones walking into churches, synagogues or Walmarts shooting people.
Nothing more woke than an armed Christian /s.

[JackBNimble]

I thought the left supported Islam

[Atticus_finch]

I doubt you ever actually think anything.

[blacktiger]

we dont need to know why, men and women dont even handshake, because they look at women sexually

[LOGICWINS]

Right, but look at the rate of single motherhood and paternity fraud in the U.S because everyone is “sexually liberated”. I’m not Middle Eastern, but at least they have a strong moral code with regards to male/female sexual dynamics.

[Atticus_finch]

Stronger moral code would be giving your woman equal rights and treating them like human beings.
In many Middle eastern countries a woman has no choice, they are forced into marriage. Woman are property to their fathers and husbands. "Sexual dynamic" You are an idiot to the suffering of woman in many Middle eastern countries.

[LucasRuinedChildhood]

Conservatives arguing against the concept of freedom for a group of people. It wouldn't be the first time. haha

[blacktiger]

.

[blacktiger]

Atticus_finch hat's correct but middle eastern men don't want to argue about that instead they talk about transgender as if middle east doesn't and then single parenthood, as if Mia Kalifah isn't middle east :p

[Sophisticated_Chap]

Yeah, Iran's moral code is so strong, that they burry women in the ground up to their necks, and stone them to death for adultery.

[victorMaje]

Travel more :)

[Elda]

Their loss. Folks here in the USA will be able to buy & enjoy.

[jznrpg]

They can buy it too just need to go the round about way

[Elda]

Folks here can pre-order or just buy when released,no need to go the round about way.

[jznrpg]

Shocker

[SegaSaturn669]

I figured they'd just change the ending so the lesbians got thrown off a building.

[CoLD FiRE]

Would still be a better ending than the leaked ending for TLOU2!

[hamburgerhill]

Well I guess you can't blame them. Not every body is going to drink the wine of America.

[Dark-soul]

I never liked revenge of lesbians story they are advertising, they will make it look like 1 furious lesbian can kill thousands grown up men.... which is a joke, although i will still buy game, but will sell it asap after finishing story

[SamPao]

Yeah but a grown up man can kill thousands of grown up man. So real. Uuuuh.

[Dark-soul]

More real then some teen lesbo

[SamPao]

"More" real still doesnt make it real.

So you are saying it yourself, you are the judge of that, in your own imagination. But you chose to say one but not the other even though none have anything to do with reality

[Dark-soul]

Make a lesbo a super hero what does it change? Or what message they are saying, lesbos can be a bad ass? Go go lesbians!! I think its not needed at all

[SamPao]

Why does it matter to you if they are lesbians? Who cares. I dont care who you like, why should I

[BrettAwesome]

Stupid hick

[FanboysKiller]

I beated the first one just once , wouldn't bother doing the same thing again.

[FanboysKiller]

ME holds a big portion of the playstation market , doing it carelessly is a big gamble for Sony corporation , whether they like it or not.

[SamPao]

God Of War was/is banned, that did quite well, no?

[FanboysKiller]

And somehow grand theft auto gets a pass unconditionally , double standards.

[Knightofelemia]

Wonder if the Mass Effect series was allowed over there in the Middle East this shit is becoming the new norm so get use to it.

[MehmetAlperTR]

It's not banned in Turkey..

[WelkinCole]

Turkey is in the middle east?

[MehmetAlperTR]

between middle east and europe.. Anotolia is in Asia.. we are neighbour with syria, Iraq and Iran..

[BrettAwesome]

But Turkey is banned in Europe 😂

[MehmetAlperTR]

I think we banned Europe.. we dont want to enter EU anymore..

[BrettAwesome]

@MehmetAlperTR
Yeah yeah, totally.
"Ok, we'll stay out. But only because we WANT to. NOT because you told us" 😂

[DashMad]

and yet Britain does it too with their brexit. sooner or later one by one of EU countries will leave EU there's no benefit in joining EU other than using Euro.

[BrettAwesome]

@DashMad
Riiiight... Britain wanted out because they still want to be the British empire (not gonna happen) And I don't really see the ottoman empire making a big comeback anytime soon either. Turkey is out because they're too uncivilized.

[Hotabang]

God of War got banned in the middle east because it had the word "God" in it. Games get banned in the middle east from time to time (maybe one game every 2 years or so), but retailers still manage to sneak them in (and Jack up the price lmao). Also, in the end everyone just changes their digital store and buys the banned game regardless

[wolfieboy]

Well, I guess its their loss at the end of the day....

[BioShockGX]

Nothing new.

[GreatSako2020]

I don't believe it's banned specially in Saudi Arabia which allows Netflix ( Gayflix) without censorship.
Anyway, you can always buy it digital from US store. There's no restriction on digital imports.

[Einhander1971]

Oh yes I forgot the Middle East live in the dark ages!!

[Voidwalker117]

So you guys are raging when Persona 5 is modified over some homophobic scene, but are ok with a game that is banned because it shows a gay relationship. Pathetic

[abra511]

the last of us is the greatest game of all time
but i agree fuck the lgbt

[Rikimaru1977]

sucks to live other there. they are missing out on a dam good game.

[Snakefist30]

Good! Garbage game deserves to be banned!

[TechnoGoat]

Cause it empowers women?

[Snakefist30]

no it promotes LGBT!

[azizlksa1]

being gay is not acceptable in saudi arabia and is not acceptable in the islamic religion which is what the saudi law is based on. Therefore the game is banned, if you believe otherwise then you are free to implement your beliefs in ((YOUR)) country.

[BrettAwesome]

Then maybe you could do us all a favour and tell all your friends to keep YOUR shit our of MY country?

[azizlksa1]

Fair enough

[BlahBlahWhatever]

The vast majority of NA and EU people are Christians so are you saying that homosexuality is not acceptable in Islamic religion but it is in Christianity? then what about what Bible says about homosexuals?

You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination. (Leviticus 18:22)
If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. (Leviticus 20:13)

Homosexuality is not acceptable contrary to what some people might believe, Bible say it clearly that doing something like this is a great sin, but people like to say "I am a Christian, I believe in Jesus" & not follow the teachings of the Bible, you see Christians don't stone to death those who commit those kind of sins, so those who mock their selves believing they are Christians choose what parts of the Bible will follow & which will not.

Btw I'm an Atheist for those who might wonder so don't go & put any labels on me that I'm some church boy or something, I just try to open the eyes of some clueless supposed-to-be Christians who have no idea what they are saying & what the real teachings of their religion truly is.

[_notafanboy_]

Interesting... The Middle East is banning a game for containing violent scenes such as torture.. A bit hypocritical don't ya think?

[BrettAwesome]

I think they banned it because someone ate pork or something. Or maybe it contains a woman driving a car, or some other stuff God hates

[BillyG0AT]

They'd edit whole scenes out for that China money though. Arabs must not pay as much

[Mulletino]

Underrated

[generic-user-name]

Criticism of this will lead to you being branded an islamophobe by the very people who are being treated with utter contempt with these types of bans.

[neomahi]

Naughty Dog are too stubborn and Sony have spoiled em too much, they won't budge.

[AnnaDea]

Pigs are also banned.

So?

[sampsonon]

The Middle east is comprised of many Countries.
"Reads comments below, Turns and walks the other way."

[quenomamen]

Stay classy middle East. Ooh hey come visit our world record skyscraper, our dazzling beaches, our gold plated 5 star hotels. Whats that you’re gay ? On second thought, you should go to Disneyworld instead. Cuz we stone gays to death.

[jbull]

Ah the Saudis, Wahabbi lunatics

[BrettAwesome]

Christianity, Judaism and Islam suck