GTA 6 is Getting Banned in Some Countries Even Before Launch

Grand Theft Auto VI, or GTA 6, is already running into trouble in some parts of the world even before its official launch, as a number of countries continue to restrict or ban the franchise over concerns related to violence, crime and explicit content.

The latest attention has come from Tajikistan, where authorities have maintained a ban on the GTA series ahead of GTA 6’s expected release on November 19, 2026. Officials in the country argue that the games promote theft, murder and criminal behavior, and fear they could negatively influence younger players.

Tajikistan had already moved against several video games in 2024, including Counter-Strike and GTA. Officials said at the time that such content conflicted with national values and could encourage crime.

But Tajikistan is not the only market where the franchise faces restrictions. Thailand has kept a full ban on all versions of GTA since 2008 following a high-profile criminal case reportedly linked to the game. Malaysia has also imposed restrictions on violent games such as GTA.

In other countries, regulators have taken a softer line by allowing edited or censored versions instead of outright bans. Germany and Australia have historically pushed for modified releases of games with graphic violence, while several countries in the Middle East, including parts of the Gulf, have often blocked or tightly regulated titles involving crime, drugs and sexual content.

With GTA 6 set to launch on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, there is still no sign that countries already restricting the franchise are preparing to ease their stance.

The early pushback shows that even before release, one of the year’s biggest games is facing the kind of global censorship battle that has followed the franchise for years.