ESRB Removes Red From Risen 2: Dark Waters Cover

The Entertainment Software Ratings Board has stepped in on Piranha Bytes and Deep Silver’s Risen 2: Dark Waters cover artwork, noting that it contains too much red which can be interpreted as being an excess of blood, Game Informer reports.

The original cover of the game depicted red paint that the ESRB determined could be interpreted as excessive blood, which goes against its marketing guidelines. The red color has since been changed to a lighter blue (see above). Publisher Deep Silver confirmed the edit to Game Informer this afternoon. “The color backdrop to the game’s skull was changed to comply with ESRB guidelines pertaining to elements that could possibly be interpreted as blood,” a representative said.

“These changes pertain only to the artwork for North America – all of our other territories will use the original artwork.”

I checked, but nope, it’s not April 1st yet. Oh well.