European version of The Last of Us doesn't allow decapitation in multiplayer

If you're wondering why you haven't been able to decapitate enemies in the multiplayer of the Last of Us, chances are, you're playing the European version of the game. Developer Naughty Dog has confirmed that the European version of the game is censored. Strangely enough, the single player doesn't seem to have been censored at all, and you can still use that nail gun to dismember enemies' heads. It’s just the multiplayer that seems to have been affected.

We contacted Sony’s Indian distributor Milestone Interactive and it has been confirmed that the country gets copies manufactured in Austria, which puts it in line with the censorship. If you want to avoid the censorship, you’ll have to get your hands on the North American version of the game, which lets you hack off enemy heads to your heart’s content.

As my grandfather used to say, "Don't dismember people!." I had a strange grandfather...

Naughty Dog's "EvangM", who was responsible for the confirmation of censoring, revealed the reason for this on the PlayStation forums. "The gore and violence ratings are subject to local regulatory boards in various countries, so the game must be slightly changed in order to accommodate those choices," EvangM said.

It is worth noting, however, that the censorship only seems to be at an aesthetic level. The inability to decapitate heads is only in the graphics and it doesn’t affect the gameplay itself in any way.

The Last of Us hit stores back in June and is exclusive to the PlayStation 3. Check out our review to see if the game’s worth playing (hint: it is).