Is GTA 6 censored in Japan? Its rating lists crime and violence, just like GTA V's
Some players read GTA 6's Japanese rating, which lists only crime and violence, as a sign of cuts. GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 carry the same two labels there. What the listings show, and South Korea's close vote.
Nothing official says Grand Theft Auto VI is cut in Japan. Its Japanese rating, CERO Z for players 18 and up, lists two kinds of content on Japan's PlayStation Store: crime and violence. Some players have read the missing sexual-content label as a sign that Japan gets a trimmed version. But GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2, also CERO Z, carry exactly the same two labels on PlayStation's Japanese pages.
Rockstar Games hasn't announced a modified version of GTA 6 for Japan, or for any other country. Here's what the listings show, where the idea comes from and how close South Korea came to refusing the game a rating.
Where the idea comes from
Two things got noticed after pre-loading began on Nov. 10, as Eurogamer reported, citing the Japanese sites GameSpark and Automaton:
- The rating's labels. In the US the ESRB lists strong sexual content and nudity, and PEGI in Europe lists sex. Japan's CERO lists neither.
- The download size. Players in Japan see a download of about 208 GB on the PlayStation and Microsoft stores, against up to 212 GB elsewhere.
Rockstar has changed a game for Japan before: GTA V's Japanese release had scenes removed or altered, Eurogamer notes. That's why players are watching.
What the labels actually show
We compared PlayStation's Japanese listings for GTA 6 and two earlier Rockstar games on Nov. 12:
| Game | Japanese rating | Content labels |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto VI | CERO Z | Crime, violence |
| Grand Theft Auto V | CERO Z | Crime, violence |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | CERO Z | Crime, violence |
The Microsoft Store shows the same CERO Z labels for GTA 6. They're the labels GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 already carry in Japan, so the missing sexual-content label doesn't tell you what was cut, or whether anything was. Other countries' ratings for GTA 6 list more:
| Country | Rating | Content labels on the PlayStation Store |
|---|---|---|
| US | ESRB M | Blood and gore, intense violence, mature humor, nudity, strong language, strong sexual content, use of drugs and alcohol |
| Australia | R 18+ | Drug use, high impact violence, sex scenes |
| New Zealand | R18 | Drug use, graphic violence, nudity, offensive language, sex scenes |
| South Korea | 19+ | Sexual content, violence, crime, drugs, language |
| Japan | CERO Z | Crime, violence |
The download size
Rockstar says GTA 6 needs up to 212 GB, depending on the console, and PlayStation's own Japanese page still tells players to clear 212 GB or more before pre-loading. Rockstar hasn't explained why the Japanese download comes out a gigabyte or two smaller, and a difference in size alone doesn't show what's in a game. Our file size guide has the figures for each console.
South Korea nearly refused a rating
South Korea came closer to a problem. According to the rating board's minutes, which the Korean site Inven Global obtained and reported on Nov. 12:
- Sept. 1: the rating application went in.
- Sept. 10: the first vote split 3 to 3 between an adults-only rating and refusing a rating, which would have kept the game off sale there. The debate was over nudity shown without sexual context. The board recommended changes and put off its decision.
- Sept. 28: a playable copy reached the board, delayed by security concerns.
- Oct. 2: the board postponed again, saying it needed to play more of the game.
- Oct. 16: it rated GTA 6 adults-only, by 8 votes to 1.
The minutes don't show what happened to the changes the board recommended, Inven says. Members largely agreed that the game's violence, crime and drug content weren't much different from GTA V's. The Korean PlayStation Store lists GTA 6 as 19+, for sexual content, violence, crime, drugs and language.
When we'll know
Rockstar and Take-Two Interactive Japan, which publishes the game there, haven't commented on the Japanese version. Players in Japan can start at midnight on Thursday, Nov. 19, Japan time, which is 10 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday, Nov. 18, according to the Japanese PlayStation Store. Japan's store also requires a credit card for CERO Z games and doesn't sell them to anyone under 18, as our story on the Japanese rating explains.
The same question came up for Australia and New Zealand, where GTA 6 unlocks first; their ratings list sex scenes and drug use, and our story on that rumor has the details. Our ratings story has every country's rating, and the parents' guide explains what they mean.
Questions readers ask
- Is GTA 6 censored in Japan?
- Nothing official says so. Japan rates it CERO Z, for 18 and up, and lists crime and violence as its content, the same two labels GTA V and Red Dead Redemption 2 carry there. Rockstar hasn't announced a modified version for Japan or anywhere else.
- Why is the GTA 6 download smaller in Japan?
- Japanese players report a download of about 208 GB, against Rockstar's figure of up to 212 GB. Rockstar hasn't explained the difference, and PlayStation Japan still tells players to free up 212 GB or more. A size difference alone doesn't show what's in a game.
- When does GTA 6 come out in Japan?
- At midnight on Thursday, Nov. 19, Japan time, the Japanese PlayStation Store shows. That's 10 a.m. Eastern on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
- Was GTA 6 almost banned in South Korea?
- It came close to being refused a rating, according to the rating board's minutes, which Inven Global obtained. The first vote, on Sept. 10, split 3 to 3, but on Oct. 16 the board rated it adults-only by 8 votes to 1, so it's coming out there.
What did you think?
Free newsletter
Get your launch-week reminders
We'll email you when pre-load opens on Nov. 10 and again on launch day, with any official news in between.
