Wartune busted using false Adult Only ESRB rating info

You may or may not have seen adverts running on popular video game websites advertising the Chinese developed browser game Wartune. In case you haven’t here’s an image from one of the adverts.

AO wartune

wartune ao 3

What’s interesting is that the game, like many others before it, is using sex to entice young gamers into its fold. There’s an abundance of scantily clad women used in its advertising which perhaps isn’t anything unusual especially if one can remember those awful Evony adverts. However, there are two points of interest here. One, the game itself does not contain any adult content, so if you’re expecting full on sexual content as you battle and spend on your credit card, then forget it. Two, the ESRB has not even rated the game. We conducted a search and couldn’t find Wartune on their website, not even rated Mature (M).

ESRB AO ratings

Apparently one person (AngelikMayhem) contacted the ESRB and got the following response:

“Thank you for contacting the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB).

The ESRB is a non-profit, self-regulatory body that assigns ratings for video games and apps so consumers, particularly parents, can make informed decisions about their suitability for their children.

At this point it appears as though Wartune has not been rated by ESRB. We will address this issue promptly by contacting the game’s publisher and appreciate your bringing it to our attention.

Regards,

Entertainment Software Rating Board”

This raises some issues over false advertising, and perhaps abusing the ESRB’s imagery. We’re no legal experts or are sure of the legal ramifications of such actions, but this seems like a pretty low move by whoever is in control of 7Road and GameFuse LLC’s advertising.

Wartune Gameplay videos:

 

Written by: Rob Cram

Rob Cram has hundreds of video game reviews, thousands of articles under his belt with years of experience in gaming and tech. He aims to remain fair and free from publisher/developer influence. With his extensive knowledge, feels his gaming opinions are valid and worth sharing. Agreement with his views are entirely optional. He might have a bias towards cyberpunk.