Months ahead of its official launch, whispers from Russian authorities suggest GTA 6 might never arrive there at all. Violence shown in past games has always stirred unease among politicians who now fear young minds may be shaped by what they see on screen. Instead of welcoming the next chapter from Rockstar, officials lean toward blocking it entirely across the nation. That decision could lock out vast numbers of gamers just when the publisher needs broad access for a smooth worldwide rollout. One of Europe’s biggest player bases suddenly stands excluded – not by choice but by policy.
Ahead of recent moves, certain lawmakers in the State Duma have stepped up efforts to outlaw the game, calling it a trigger for disruptive conduct and at odds with long-held cultural norms. Despite past disputes around the franchise, current global tensions have sharpened focus on entertainment coming from abroad. Now said to be under active review is a full restriction on availability – banning both brick-and-mortar shops from stocking discs and online platforms from serving downloads to users inside Russia.
Older fans of game releases might remember how tough it was when Rockstar launched GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2. Yet what’s coming for GTA 6 feels stricter, somehow. Russia has long welcomed console and PC titles without much pushback. Still, tighter online controls mean some gamers there could turn to unofficial channels – or hidden web routes – to reach the bright, hot world of Vice City.
With the industry heading into its 2025 launch period, losing access to Russia isn’t merely a supply issue – it shows how divided the world’s gaming markets are becoming. Should the restriction take effect, it would mark a clear boundary on how Western entertainment is treated there. While some wonder if Rockstar Games might offer an edited edition to satisfy authorities, past behavior suggests they rarely bend their vision for approval. Still unclear whether that stance will hold.
Source: News.ru
