Grand Theft Auto VI has started turning up in age rating databases, and the descriptions attached to those classifications go further than anything Rockstar has shown publicly. The game carries an 18+ rating, or the local equivalent, in every region, which will surprise no one. What stands out is the specific reasoning behind it.
PEGI, the rating body covering Europe and the UK, listed GTA VI with content descriptors for violence, sex, drugs and in-game purchases. The accompanying write-up outlined several mechanics and content details that hadn't previously been confirmed.
What PEGI's listing described
Drug use: Players can carry cocaine and snort it directly from their hand at any time.
Sexual content: The game contains strong sexual themes, including nudity, scenes of intercourse and occasional references to fetishes.
Nightclub interactions: Players can pay for private dances in clubs, and the game lets them touch the dancers during those scenes.
Animals: Domestic animals exist in the world and can be harmed by the player, though the injury detail is less graphic than what can be inflicted on human characters.
Language: Strong profanity is frequent, with an especially harsh expletive appearing occasionally.
Discriminatory language: Such language can be heard on in-game TV shows and radio stations.
In-game purchases: Optional items can be bought, but the game is fully playable without them. This likely refers to the Ultimate Edition upgrade.
Violence remains front and center
Anyone who watched the recent Extended Look trailer won't be shocked by the violence descriptor. PEGI describes the game's free-roaming violence as bloody and highly realistic, with certain weapons capable of causing extreme damage, including detailed decapitation and dismemberment.
The listing was pulled
Shortly after the details began circulating, PEGI removed the GTA VI rating page. As of this writing, there has been no explanation for the removal, and it's unclear whether the entry was published early or simply taken down for review. Rockstar has not commented on the rating or the details in it.
The rating arrives during a busy stretch for GTA VI news. New screenshots appeared in a fashion magazine this week, a GTA VI mural is going up in New York City, and Rockstar has teamed with the Miami Heat for a Vice City-themed release day game. With the game's November 19 launch approaching, expect more rating boards to publish their own assessments, which may fill in the picture PEGI started.
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