GTA VI Approved for Adults in Japan as Players Fear New Restrictions

GTA VI has received Japan’s highest age rating, CERO Z. Players are concerned that the Japanese version could still be censored, as GTA V was.

Japanese players can expect the most mature entry in the series. GTA VI has officially received a CERO Z rating, Japan’s highest category, reserved exclusively for adults. The rating is already listed on the Japanese PlayStation Store and Xbox Store, alongside warnings about crime and violence.

The decision comes as no surprise given the subject matter of Rockstar’s game. The content of the Japanese release is a bigger question. GTA V was altered for release in Japan: some sexual scenes and the most violent moments were removed or toned down. So even the highest age rating does not guarantee that the next game will reach Japanese players without cuts.

Rockstar has not said whether the Japanese version of GTA VI will be censored. The CERO Z rating could indicate that the publisher has not heavily toned down the game’s content. But a definitive answer will come only with an official statement or the game’s release. Any changes could be limited to specific scenes, or they could also affect freedom of action in the open world.