The Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle (USK), also known as "Voluntary Monitoring Organisation of Entertainment Software" has decided that Gears of War will not be available in Germany.
The rating organization says that Gears of War cannot be sold because it has not given the game a rating. The rule is, games without ratings cannot be sold by retail stores. Thus, if they do not rate it you have the same impact as outright banning the game.
Similar to issues we have here in the States and the ESRB, it seems that other countries run into road blocks along the way as well. Gears of War does not contain any Nazi content or symbolize but contains some rather "high" level of violence. Although the ratings board has a rating for violent games (i.e. "Freigegeben ab 18 Jahren gemäß" for approved for 18-years or older) it has decided not to rate the game at all.
Unfortunately, Microsoft is pushing Gears of War as one of its next premier titles and hit franchises for the future. How will this impact other rating boards internationally?
