Grand Theft Auto V rated R18+ for Australia

Australian gamers who were concerned that upcoming open-world title Grand Theft Auto V would befall the same fate as the recently twice refused classification Saints Row IV can rest easy, with Rockstar Games’ next major release today receiving the country’s maximum R18+ rating.

The ruling, which can be viewed on the Classification Board’s website, reveals that the game includes strong impact themes, violence, language, nudity, and sex, as well as high-impact drug use. The report lists the submission as “original”, with a Rockstar Games spokesperson confirming to GameSpot that the local release will be identical to versions sold in other territories.

GTA V takes place in Los Santos, a fictional re-creation of Los Angeles, and will star three main characters: Franklin, a former street gangster; Michael, a bank robber eager to get back into the game; and Trevor, a drug-addicted psychopath. The game will launch on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on September 17 this year.

An online petition for a PC version of the game has attracted almost 300,000 signatures to date. Co-founder Dan Houser previously said that while no PC version has been announced, it is "up for consideration".