Following two previous rejections, the game developers, Rockstar Games, appealed the BBFC decision to the Video Appeals Committee. The appeals committee upheld a previous decision that an edited version of the game could be released. Based on this latest decision the BBFC had no choice but to issue the certificate that allows Rockstar to start selling Manhunt 2.

While the game may now be legal to sell in the UK, there still remains the issue of which retailers will be prepared to carry the title. Given the previous publicity about the level of gratuitous violence in the game, many of the larger game sellers may refuse to stock Manhunt 2.

This latest twist to the Manhunt 2 saga also raises issues for the Irish Film Censor: if the game is now “acceptable” within the UK, should the IFCO reconsider their decision to ban the game in this country?