Warns Rockstar Video games it should take away male strippers from the sport or be banned within the nation
GTA 6. Picture: file
Russia has threatened to dam the discharge of Rockstar Video games’ extremely anticipated GTA 6 except content material deemed “immoral” is eliminated.
The warning particularly targets leaked additions corresponding to male strippers, which officers declare violate ethical and cultural norms.
Mikhail Ivanov, deputy chairman of the World Russian Folks’s Council, criticized the inclusion of the scenes within the recreation, calling the collection a “harmful instrument of affect” on younger gamers. “The creators of GTA VI intentionally embody damaging and vulgar content material of their product, utterly unacceptable to the ethical well being of society,” Ivanov stated. He urged Rockstar to launch “cleaned” variations of the sport for the Russian market to adjust to native requirements.
The controversy follows a number of leaks of GTA 6 content material final 12 months, confirmed by Rockstar, which included story particulars, gameplay mechanics, and beforehand undisclosed options corresponding to male strip golf equipment. Some builders have been reportedly dismissed after the leaks, highlighting the sensitivity surrounding the upcoming launch.
This isn’t the primary time video video games have been altered for particular areas. Comparable changes occurred with Overwatch 2, whose Satisfaction occasion was banned in a number of Center Japanese international locations in 2023 on account of cultural sensitivities. Russia has additionally beforehand criticized different media, together with movies like Shrek and Monsters Inc, for allegedly impacting kids negatively.
GTA 6 is scheduled for a world launch on November 19, 2026, and is projected to be one of many largest recreation launches in historical past. Whether or not Rockstar will present a modified model for the Russian market stays unclear, however updates are anticipated as the discharge date approaches.
