Australia's first R18+ game is Ninja Gaiden 3

The first game to receive Australia's new R18+ classification is Ninja Gaiden 3: Razor's Edge for the Nintendo Wii U. The new legislation was introduced on January 1, 2013, adding an adult rating category for titles in the region. With the addition of the new category, video games in Australia can be classified as G, PG, M, MA15+ or R18+.

"The classification guidelines for video games are now more closely aligned with the guidelines for film and TV which makes it easier for parents to make informed decisions about the interactive content they choose to buy and play," said Interactive Games & Entertainment Association chief executive officer Ron Curry.

The Interactive Games & Entertainment Association has been lobbying for the R18+ classification for more than ten years.

"It's important for people to keep close attention to these ratings before buying a game, but we also encourage parents to do their own research and read reviews about the game before they make a purchase. This also serves as a timely reminder for parents to update control settings on game consoles to ensure children are only accessing age-appropriate content," said Curry.

"It's great to finally see Australian adults have access to video games designed specifically for mature audiences, after more than ten years working with government, families, businesses and the broader community to introduce an R18+ category."