Russia Is Trying to Ban GTA 6 (Again), Calling It a Tool of "Western Propaganda"

Mind you, Ivanov isn't technically a federal lawmaker. The WRPC is an international public organization with UN consultative status, not a government agency. That said, the council carries considerable social influence in Russia. It's headed by Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, and Vladimir Putin himself has addressed its plenary sessions.

At the end of the day, what Ivanov is proposing isn't exactly novel. He wants Russian authorities to either "introduce strict legislative restrictions on the distribution of such games in the Russian Federation" or "oblige publishers to release special versions for our market that are cleansed of immoral content." It's the same playbook that countries have tried running on the Grand Theft Auto franchise for decades, with mixed success.

Rockstar has never been a company to shy away from controversy. From the "Hot Coffee" scandal that rocked Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas to the retailer bans that hit Grand Theft Auto V in Australia, the studio has found a way to live and thrive with similar regional restrictions and outright bans for as long as the franchise has existed, and none of this ever hindered their success.

Just last November, Tajikistan announced a sweeping ban on all GTA games claiming they "contain elements of rape, murder, and robbery" and "incite crime." Local authorities in Dushanbe even began planning raids on gaming centers to enforce compliance. Thailand has had the entire GTA franchise banned since 2008 following a high-profile murder case where the perpetrator claimed inspiration from the games.

Of course, not every country is moving in the same direction. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which banned GTA V and Grand Theft Auto Online for over a decade, finally lifted restrictions in July 2025 with the introduction of a new 21+ rating system. GTA 6 is now listed on PlayStation Stores across seven Middle Eastern countries, which means some markets are opening up rather than closing down.

If Ivanov's push gains traction, Russian players might find themselves in a familiar position of relying on VPNs. It's a scenario that played out for years in countries where certain titles are banned. Rockstar has not commented on the matter, and there's no indication that the studio is considering a modified Russian version of GTA 6. We'll have to wait and see whether this call gains any real political momentum.

In the meantime, GTA 6 is still on track for its November 19, 2026 release, and most of the world is expected to throw their money at their digital screens just to get their hands on the game, regardless of what one Russian council member has to say about virtual strip clubs.