As reported last week, Australia will be getting a slightly toned down version of Grand Theft Auto.  In order to meet the standards of Australia’s Office of Literature and Film Classification, which does not offer a mature or 18+ rating, Rockstar needed to make some edits to controversial content in the game.  We knew the edits were being made, but we didn’t know what it was that was being edited to meet the stringent standards of a 15+ rating.  

Today, Kotaku got in contact with publisher Take Two’s  Australian customer service department to get some answers.  Here’s what they said:

 

"Well in regards to what Rockstar have removed for the Australian release, as far as we're aware there was only one sexually violent cut-scene which Rockstar felt would cause the game to be Refused Classification. Unfortunately we're not able to go into specifics until after the game has been released but I can tell you that the scene involves a weapon being inserted into an enemies private area during a mission where Niko is taking revenge after one of his close friends was forced into sexual intercourse during his stay in prison."

Seriously I thought he was joking ....I was like LOL you're joking right? He says "No. This is what Rockstar felt needed to be removed from the game for it's Australian release. We were recently given permission to release this information because as we understand, Rockstar originally made a press release stating that the game would be released uncut world wide. We felt it would be misleading not to release the information".



Okay, that’s understandable, I suppose.  For a 15+ rating, the old pistol-up-the-ass trick may be a bit much.  Why the “Land Down Under” doesn’t have a mature rating for games is beyond me, but that’s their bag, I guess.  Of course, is the unwelcome entry of a handgun into a certain orifice really that much worse than the wonton and gratuitous slaughter of hundreds of innocent virtual Liberty City residents?  Apparently so, if you're Australian.


Related Articles:

GTA IV Neutered For Australian Audience?

What Will Australian GTA IV Be Missing?

British Retailers to Have a Hard Time Meeting GTA IV Pre-Orders