Grand Theft Auto V, one of the most popular games in Indonesia, was briefly hit with a “Refused Classification” (RC) rating under the country’s brand-new Indonesia Game Rating System (IGRS). The label effectively made the game unavailable for purchase on Steam for Indonesian users earlier this month, sparking widespread confusion and backlash among local gamers.
The drama began in the first week of April 2026 when Steam started displaying IGRS age ratings for games in Indonesia. Instead of the expected 18+ rating for mature titles, GTA V was slapped with an RC tag — the system’s strictest category, meaning the game was deemed “not fit for distribution.” This triggered Steam’s policy that games without a valid local rating would no longer be shown to customers in the region.
What Is the New IGRS System?
Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) introduced the IGRS earlier this year as part of a broader push to regulate online content and protect younger players. The system features six categories:
3+
7+
13+
15+
18+
Refused Classification (RC)
While the IGRS was designed to work alongside the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) — which already rates GTA V as 18+ in many regions — early implementation relied heavily on an automated self-classification questionnaire filled out by developers. Many players and industry observers criticized the rollout for producing wildly inconsistent results.
Other notable examples included:
Violent shooters like Call of Duty receiving a child-friendly 3+ rating.
Wholesome farming sim Story of Seasons being rated 18+.
Several major titles (including Baldur’s Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077, and others) also receiving the dreaded RC label.
Government and Valve Step In
The confusion quickly drew public criticism. On April 6, Komdigi issued an official statement clarifying that the ratings appearing on Steam were not the final, official IGRS classifications and could mislead parents about age-appropriate content.
In response, Valve removed all IGRS labels from the Indonesian Steam store. A few days later, Steam addressed the situation directly, calling it “a technical bug and miscommunication” that led to “incorrect and incomplete ratings” being displayed between April 2 and April 5. The company confirmed it is now working closely with the Indonesian ministry to implement a smoother, more accurate process moving forward.
As of now, the issue has been resolved. GTA V and the other affected titles are once again visible and purchasable on Steam in Indonesia. Some reports indicate the platform has temporarily reverted to showing PEGI ratings while the full IGRS integration is refined.
Why This Matters for Indonesian Gamers
Indonesia has a massive and passionate gaming community, and GTA V remains hugely popular there thanks to its single-player campaign and ongoing GTA Online updates. The brief RC scare highlighted growing pains with the new regulatory system, especially around automated classification tools and potential overreach via the RC category (which can function as an effective ban).
The Indonesian Game Association (AGI) has described the regulation as a “guideline, not a restriction,” but many players remain cautious about how strictly it will be enforced in the long term — especially with GTA VI on the horizon.
For now, though, the situation has a happy ending: no permanent bans, clearer communication between Valve and the government, and a commitment to improve the system. Indonesian fans can continue enjoying Los Santos without interruption.
Stay tuned to Nexus Gaming for the latest GTA news, including any future developments on regional ratings or GTA Online updates in Southeast Asia.
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