Valve has failed in appealing the Australian Classification Board's ban of the uncensored version of Left 4 Dead 2. The group refused to grant the sequel with an MA15+ rating – Australia's highest – after determining that the title had "high impact violence" against "living humans infected with a rabies-like virus," and "graphic depictions of blood and gore."


All is not lost for aspiring zombie hunters in the land down under, though; Valve submitted and obtained MA15+ classification for an edited version of Left 4 Dead 2. While the censored game will be quite watered down, with no depictions of decapitations, dismemberment, wound detail, or piles of bodies lying about the environment, I assume it's better than not launching at all.

Left 4 Dead 2 is slated for a November 17 release on PC and Xbox 360, and a demo will arrive on November 3 (those who pre-ordered have access to the demo from October 27).