GTA 6 May Already Be Facing Its First Ban

2 hours ago 2

Paul Farrelly is a Contributing Writer for Screen Rant’s Gaming section and the founder of GeekGasm.org, a site dedicated to celebrating all things gaming, from triple A blockbusters to weird and wonderful indie hits. Based in Louth, Ireland, Paul has spent years writing about games, pop culture, and tech, turning his lifelong love of gaming into a career that lets him talk (probably too much) about what makes this industry so endlessly fascinating.
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While the majority of us are just worried that Grand Theft Auto 6 will be delayed again, for some their concerns are that they might not get it at all! It would seem that currently, in Russia, there is pressure from the World Russian People's Council to completely ban the game from being released in Russia. Will it be 'Banned Theft Auto' for gamers in Russia? Let's get into it!

Recently on NEWS.ru Mikhail Ivanov spoke candidly about how he feels about the imminent launch of Grand Theft Auto 6 worldwide. He aired his concerns that the game would have mass appeal to all age groups and may have a negative effect on young minds. He described parts of the game as violent and vulgar and was particularly upset that there is a planned part of the game that depicts a male erotic dancer.

Could GTA 6 Be Banned In Russia?

Rockstar Under Pressure

You can read some of that statement here:

"The creators of GTA 6 are deliberately including destructive and vulgar content in their product, which is completely unacceptable for the moral health of society [...] Allowing such content is tantamount to corrupting the younger generation."

Mikhail went on to say that legislation in Russia needed to be drawn up to restrict entertainment like Grand Theft Auto 6 from being sold or played by children. Age verification restrictions in games like Roblox should be used, as they are across Europe, to ensure the game is only experienced by gamers of an appropriate age. With Grand Theft Auto 6's official release date fast approaching, time will tell if Mikhail Ivanov gets his way.

"GTA's popularity makes it a particularly dangerous tool of influence. We must demonstrate civic responsibility and prevent our children from being sold the poison of corruption and permissiveness under the guise of entertainment. We cannot waste money on products that undermine our values. It's telling that even in other countries, developers are forced to consider age verification systems due to increasingly stringent legislation. It's our duty to be more principled in this matter."

We'll Have To Wait And See

Could An All-Out Ban Be On The Way?

Grand Theft Auto 6 could realistically face a ban as Mikhail carries some sway. Not only is he the chairperson of the World Russian People's Council, but he's also a deputy of Bryansk Oblast Duma. They are responsible for regional legislation and help draw up regional laws for parliament. They don't overrule federal law, but they could potentially heavily influence a countrywide ban on GTA 6.

With early access to Grand Theft Auto 6 seeming very unlikely, I'll guess we'll have to wait until launch to see if Rockstar can dominate the gaming market in Russia as it no doubt will in the rest of the world. One more controversy to add to Rockstars' rather full plate, it would seem.