Fallout 3 Banned in India Due to Cows?

Kris Erickson • Oct 24, 2008 • Comments ()

Fallout 3, the post-apocaplyptic RPG from Bethesda Entertainment, has been banned from shops in India. Usually countries like Germany, the UK and Australia are the most prolific censures of American games, citing their violent and mature themes as ban-worthy. The most recent victim of such a ban was Silent Hill Homecoming, whose sexy zombie nurses proved too extreme for regulators in Australia.

The decision to ban Fallout 3 in India came not because of the violence issue (although Fallout 3 is pretty greusome). Rather, Microsoft said the game had been denied release due to "cultural sensitivity" issues. It is likely that cows are the root of the problem for Fallout 3 in India. Cows, or Brahman, are considered sacred by adherents of the Hindu faith. Hinduism is the largest practiced religion in India. Fallout 3 doesn't feature cows, per se, but it does feature heavilly irradiated, mutant two-headed cows called Brahmin. In the game, players can slaughter them and use their flesh to regain hit points. We doubt this would go over very well in India, and we commend Microsoft on their foresight in removing this game from shelves.