11 years later, GTA 5 premieres in a place where it was banned

Banned for years, GTA 5 now gets its second chance in this country.

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Although the media focus is on GTA 6, there are parts of the world where the fifth installment of the saga has not been able to be played officially. This is the case in Saudi Arabia, where Grand Theft Auto V was never legally distributed… until now.

Rockstar Games has finally achieved approval to launch the title in that country, more than 11 years after its worldwide release. A move that surprises, given the history of censorship in the region, and which makes GTA 5 a completely new release for an entire generation of local players.

GTA 5 arrives for the first time in Saudi Arabia after the end of its ban

Grand Theft Auto V was banned in Saudi Arabia in 2018 along with other titles such as The Witcher, Hitman, or Assassin’s Creed, due to its explicit content, violence, sexual references, and drug use. Although Rockstar had already tried to publish it in the past, it never obtained official approval until now.

The game will arrive this July with a “21+” rating, equivalent to our PEGI 18, and will be accessible only to adults. From here on, it remains to be seen if the situation opens the door to future releases like GTA 6 in the country. For now, for many Saudi players, this will be the first time they can experience the story of Michael, Trevor, and Franklin without resorting to alternative methods.

Grand Theft Auto V will be releasing in Saudi Arabia this month after it was banned in July 2018.

The game will have a 21+ rating. pic.twitter.com/KqokxPkisv

— ben (@videotechuk_) July 3, 2025