After yesterday's news that Dennaton Games' highly-anticipated top-down ultra-violent sequel Hotline Miami 2: Wrong Number has been refused classification in Australia, meaning the game can no longer be sold or distributed in the country, the dev has given some simple advice to those still wanting the game: just pirate it.

A fan was upset the game won't be available in Australia, and he wants to support the developer and would rather not get into legal trouble. He wrote an e-mail to the game developer to ask for some guidance on how to handle the situation. The game's lead designer, Jonatan Söderström, wrote back with simple advice:

If it ends up not being release in Australia, just pirate it after release.

No need to send us any money, just enjoy the game!

Dennaton has confirmed the legitimacy of the email, which seems to suggest that they are quite happy with the idea of those unable to gain access to the game legitimately to take it into their own hands. Of course for those that can pay and access the game its recommended taking the legitimate path, but this is certainly an easy way to stick to the man if your local rating's system limits what you can and can't play.

Publisher Devolver has also hit back at the Australian Classification Board, stating they are committed to Dennaton's vison of the game and that they won't be challenging the report, despite feeling it contains inaccuracies.

“We are aware of the recent report published by the Australian Classification Board in regards to Hotline Miami 2 and have been in communication with them,” the publisher said.

“In response to the report itself, we are concerned and disappointed that a board of professionals tasked with evaluating and judging games fairly and honestly would stretch the facts to such a degree and issue a report that describes specific thrusting actions that are not simply present in the sequence in question and incorrectly portrays what was presented to them for review.”