Diablo 4 Billboard Receives Approval from Australian Complaints Panel
A Diablo 4 billboard in Australia has been given the thumbs up by a complaints panel, after a complaint was made that it was "offensive and potentially harmful to children." The response from the panel serves as a reminder that not all complaints are upheld, especially when the imagery is clearly associated with a specific product or genre.
In a letter to the Australian Ad Standards panel, a complainant expressed their concern about the billboard, stating that it promoted evil. They argued that the images were graphic and offensive, and believed that it could be harmful to children.
The Australian Ad Standards panel responded in a dismissive manner, highlighting the ridiculousness of the complaint. They pointed out that the billboard featured demonic imagery to advertise the upcoming game Diablo 4, which was clearly targeted towards gamers who would understand the context and not be negatively impacted.
The panel also emphasized that the game has a strong following and that its fans would easily recognize the advertisement as being for Diablo 4. They found that the complaint did not breach any specific advertising guidelines and concluded that there was no evidence to suggest that the billboard would cause harm or distress to any person.
This dismissal serves as a reminder that ads cannot be judged in a vacuum and that the target audience and context must be considered when evaluating the appropriateness of the content. It also highlights the distinction between fantasy and reality in the world of video games.
While this incident is a victory for the makers of Diablo 4, it also brings attention to the ongoing debate surrounding the potential impact of violent or controversial content in video game advertising. Ultimately, it is up to individuals and parents to make informed decisions about the content they engage with or allow their children to be exposed to.
Check out the original complaint and Ad Standards panel response in full below:
