http://www.ign.com/articles/2014/07/09/the-evil-within-edited-in-japan

ZeniMax is censoring The Evil Within in Japan so the survival-horror game can receive a lower rating to improve sales and marketing. But the publisher is releasing an unedited Gore Mode DLC, which players get with pre-ordering the upcoming Shinji Mikami title.

Tetsu Takahashi, general manager of ZeniMax Asia, talked with Famitsu (translated via Siliconera) about the decision to release an edited version of The Evil Within at retail in Japan. “If we were to make it the same way as the foreign version, it’d be rated CERO Z [18 and older] ...," said Takahashi. “However, that would limit the sales and advertising, so we’d lose the opportunity to reach out to as many customers possible.”

As such, ZeniMax decided to offer the unedited western version of The Evil Within through the Gore Mode DLC, even though the retail release is rated CERO D, for ages 17 and older. "Those who preorder the game can also get the CERO Z version’s representation through the Gore Mode DLC," said Takahashi.

And ZeniMax feels confident that the edited version of The Evil Within won't change what the core game is about. “Speaking with Mikami about how having The Evil Within be rated CERO D won’t have an effect on the game itself, it has become possible to make it that way," Takahashi said. "Again, this new game is also getting a vast amount of pre-orders, so that also strengthened our resolve."