GTA 6 very narrowly avoided a ban for the most hilarious reason

Grand Theft Auto VI’s launch is officially less than one week away, and we’re expecting some controversy to follow the title’s highly anticipated launch.

For GTA V, it was the ‘By The Book’ mission that almost proved a step too far for some, with the player forced to torture an unarmed man.

It awaits to be seen if GTA VI similarly pushes the limit of what’s acceptable, or whether we’re simply in for the usual cycle of street crime and debauchery.

All of this being said, it has come to light that GTA VI almost received a ban ahead of launch and it’s arguably for the most characterising reason that you could ban a Grand Theft Auto game for.

GTA VI’s nudity almost proved to be too much

Rockstar Games

According to the South Korean ratings board, GTA VI contains far too many genitals with a vote leading to a hung jury, pun very much intended.

Ultimately, GTA VI ended up with an ‘Adults Only’ rating in South Korea, but as per a report from Inven, the country’s ratings board originally felt that there was too much genital exposure “without context”.

That’s not a major surprise considering what we’ve already seen of the game. It’s essentially confirmed that Jason and Lucia will get intimate.

Prolific leaker CYBERLEEK also highlighted nudity in just about every clip, whether they were revealing strip clubs, nudist colonies, or simply having Jason walk around with his dong hanging free.

Originally, the South Korean ratings board had three members vote to refuse classification, thus banning the game, and three vote for an ‘Adults Only’ rating.

Eventually, after much discussion, the vote ended up with an ‘Adults Only’ majority. I’d love to have been a fly on the wall listening to the pro-rating half of the group justify why an overwhelming number of genitals is okay.

Outside of nudity, we can defer a few other controversial elements to other ratings boards across the world.

GTA VI will also feature dismemberment, according to its PEGI rating

In the UK, GTA VI has secured a PEGI rating of 18+, and according to GamesRadar+, the now-removed page made mention of dismemberment.

It began by confirming the expected “strong graphic violence, strong sexual themes, and use of illegal drugs” before adding: “Violence is bloody with a high degree of realism, with certain weapons being able to cause greater damage such as detailed decapitation and dismemberment.”

That does feel slightly more, let’s say, intense than what we’re perhaps used to in Grand Theft Auto, despite the franchise’s reputation.

The PEGI rating went on to describe drug use as “frequent and prominent”.

"Most notably, cocaine can be carried around by the player and snorted directly from their hand at any time,” it said.

READ MORE: GTA 6 gamers spot first Xbox 'downgrade' as launch day looms

The lead-up to GTA VI has been incredibly busy amid this final stretch.

Rockstar Games has finally confirmed that the game will only run at 30fps, including on the PlayStation 5 Pro, which has disappointed some fans.

It also partnered with PlayStation to announce GTA VI: The Festival, a once-in-a-lifetime launch event in Miami, Florida.

Preloads are now available for both digital and code-in-a-box consumers, so don’t forget to get yourself ready for the big day.