Russia Calls for GTA 6 Ban Over “Destructive and Vulgar” Content

Do you remember how, during a detailed breakdown of screenshots it was noted that GTA 6 might feature male striptease? A poster inviting people to ladies nights was spotted at the entrance to the Delights club in Port Gellhorn. That said, this does not necessarily mean that erotic dances performed by men will actually appear in the game. Still, such a feature would fit the setting, given that a woman will be one of the main protagonists (alongside her boyfriend). What’s amusing is that even such a minor detail — one that has not been officially confirmed — can end up triggering calls to ban the video game altogether.

This is exactly what a deputy of the Bryansk Regional Duma and Deputy Chairman of the World Russian People’s Council, Mikhail Ivanov, is proposing.

The creators of GTA VI are deliberately moving toward including destructive and vulgar content in their product — content that is completely unacceptable for the moral well-being of society. We are talking about the planned appearance of male striptease scenes in the game, which constitutes a direct and cynical violation of basic moral standards and traditional spiritual values. Allowing this is tantamount to the sexual molestation of the younger generation. Either strict legislative restrictions must be introduced on the distribution of such games in the Russian Federation, or publishers must be obliged to release special versions for our market that are cleansed of immoral content.

The popularity of Grand Theft Auto makes it an especially dangerous instrument of influence. We must show civic responsibility and not allow poison to be sold to our children under the guise of entertainment. Money should not be spent on products that undermine fundamental values. It is telling that even in other countries developers are being forced to think about age-verification systems due to increasingly strict legislation. Our duty is to take a more principled stance on this issue.

It is surprising how well the lawmaker seems to navigate restrictions abroad, while either completely forgetting — or deliberately ignoring — the fact that Grand Theft Auto VI is unlikely to appear on the Russian market at all due to sanctions imposed over the invasion of Ukraine. Since March 2022, sales of Take-Two and Rockstar Games titles have been suspended.

Comments: