GTA VI will only be available to those aged 18 and over in Germany. As announced by the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body, the game has received the expected rating – which could have financial implications for some buyers.
With the launch trailer, Rockstar Games has really ramped up the hype surrounding GTA VI once again, some four weeks before its release. YouTube recorded 26 million views around 24 hours after the video was published. It is no coincidence that industry insiders are comparing the game’s launch to the release of a new iPhone.
However, amongst the millions of interested parties, there may well be one or two who will not be able to buy this year’s hotly anticipated gaming highlight. At least not officially. As the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body (USK) has announced, GTA VI will, as expected, not receive a youth rating. The game will therefore only be available to those aged 18 and over in Germany.
Three compelling arguments
According to the USK, there are three reasons for the classification: “extreme violence”, “drugs” and “criminal role models”. Whilst physical altercations and the use of weapons are “clearly visualised or given an exaggeratedly strong focus”, the illegal substances and activities lack appropriate contextualisation.
For instance, drug use is “portrayed positively or frequently” in the game, and criminality is “presented uncritically or trivialised”. This means the regulatory body is targeting not only robberies but also, for example, illegal car races, “which are portrayed as adventures”. Furthermore, “the uncritical portrayal of criminal organisations, even to the point of glorifying them” could also fulfil the criteria for criminal role models.
A curious detail regarding alleged in-game purchases
It is also interesting that the USK lists in-game purchases amongst the mandatory usage notes – even though Rockstar Games announced that there would be no microtransactions in GTA VI. “The game includes options to purchase additional content directly,” explains the USK, and immediately offers a possible explanation for this oddity: The potential purchases could refer to the option to upgrade the Standard Edition to the Ultimate Edition for an additional 20 euros on top of the 80-euro price.
Another possible explanation could be potential purchases within the anticipated online mode of GTA VI. Previous instalments in the series have already featured microtransactions in this mode, whilst Rockstar’s statement on in-game purchases referred specifically to the single-player mode.
The game’s rating and availability therefore appear to have been clarified. Yet at the same time, a question arises: will the original version of GTA VI be released in Germany at all?
In the past, German versions of the series’ instalments were regularly released. These were edited to obtain a USK rating of 16 and over. However, this is a measure that is rarely used nowadays.
Why some buyers now have to pay extra
At the same time, the rating may have consequences for all buyers who wish to order the physical game case with a download code online or have already pre-ordered it. Whilst a shop can verify the buyer’s age directly at the till, some major retailers rely on an age check upon delivery for online purchases of this kind. This means that delivery must be made in person, which in some cases entails an additional charge of a few euros.