Overview
- Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for Media Regulation and the UAE Media Council introduced the region’s first 21+ classification to supersede previous PEGI-based ratings and allow unmodified mature titles
- Take-Two Interactive has appointed Riyadh-based Advanced Initiative Company as the local distributor for GTA V, GTA Online and other major franchises
- Players have welcomed legal access but criticized the lack of Arabic localization and the strict age threshold
- Market research firm Niko Partners says the approval represents a turning point in Middle Eastern game regulation that could fast-track other delayed releases
- With over 215 million copies sold by May 2025, GTA V’s entry into Saudi Arabia and the UAE is set to boost its reach ahead of GTA 6