Fans eagerly awaiting the release of *Grand Theft Auto 6* may face an extended wait in Russia due to potential content concerns.
It’s been nearly 13 years since *GTA 5* launched, and last year, players finally received a release date for the next installment in the series. Originally, *GTA 6* was expected to arrive in May, but this date was subsequently postponed to November.
At the time of announcing the new release date, Rockstar Games expressed: “We are sorry for adding additional time to what we realize has been a long wait, but these extra months will allow us to finish the game with the level of polish you have come to expect and deserve.
“We want to thank you again for your patience and support. While the wait is a little longer, we are incredibly excited for players to experience the sprawling state of Leonida and a return to modern day Vice City. Sincerely Rockstar Games.”
As the countdown continues for *GTA 6*, gamers in Russia might face restrictions. This is a result of certain leaks, one of which showed male strippers in the game, causing discomfort among Russian officials.
Mikhail Ivanov, deputy chairman of the international forum the World Russian People’s Council and a member of the regional Russian parliament in Bryansk, told a Russian news outlet: “The creators of *GTA VI* are deliberately including destructive and vulgar content in their product, which is completely unacceptable to the moral health of society.
“This includes the planned inclusion of scenes of male striptease in the game, which is a direct and cynical violation of basic moral norms and traditional spiritual values.
“Allowing such content is tantamount to corrupting the younger generation. We need to either impose strict legal restrictions on the distribution of such games in Russia or require publishers to release special versions for our market, cleared of immoral content.”
Ivanov further explained: “*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.”
Rockstar Games has been contacted for a comment.