The game features an alternative American reality in which the player, in the role of a young graffiti artist, tries to bring down an autocratic government through the use of ‘street art’ and hand to hand combat skills.

Fashion designer and former acclaimed graffiti artist, Marc Ecko, who was the inspiration for the game, said he was disappointed in the decision, which he said was “based solely on a perceived notion that it will somehow promote the crime of graffiti”.

Atari Australia, the game’s local distributor, said it would explore all legal avenues in an effort to ensure that freedom of speech was protected.