Thousands of gamers are feeling down down under as the Australian Classification Board is refusing to make any exceptions regarding the distribution of NetherRealm Studios’ Mortal Kombat reboot.

Deemed too gruesome for the country’s delicate-minded population, the 18+ rated title joins a growing list of IPs that won’t make it past Bondi Beach unless changes are made in accordance with Australia’s strict MA15+ classification standard.

For background, Publisher Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment made the following statement last month:

"The highly-anticipated video game Mortal Kombat has been refused classification by the Australian Classification Board and will not release in Australia. We are extremely disappointed that Mortal Kombat, one of the world’s oldest and most successful videogames franchises, will not be available to mature Australian gamers. WBIE would not market mature content where it is not appropriate for the audience. We understand that not all content is for every audience, but there is an audience for mature gaming content and it would make more sense to have the R18+ classification in Australia. As a member of the iGEA, WBIE is reviewing all options available at this time."

Frankly, we see only one option: replacing blood, innards and fatalities with fairy dust, cotton wool and sportsman-like handshakes. Can’t see that happening really, can you?