With little more than a month remaining before the launch of Grand Theft Auto IV, the game has reached yet another major milestone on its road to release: a proper rating. Earlier today, the ESRB officially dropped the “Rating Pending” emblem with the all-too-familiar “M for Mature” badge of honour.
For the sake of comparison, we’ve compiled a handy listing of all Grand Theft Auto ESRB ratings, from Grand Theft Auto straight through to Grand Theft Auto IV. Nothing like a bit of nostalgia, eh?
Grand Theft Auto
Rated Mature based on:
- Animated Blood
- Strong Language
Grand Theft Auto 2
Rated Mature/Teen (depending on platform) based on:
- Animated Violence
- Strong Language
- Suggestive Themes
Grand Theft Auto 3
Rated Mature based on:
- Blood
- Strong Language
- Violence
Grand Theft Auto: Vice City
Rated Mature based on:
- Blood and Gore
- Strong Language
- Strong Sexual Content
- Violence
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
Rated Mature based on:
- Blood and Gore
- Intense Violence
- Strong Language
- Strong Sexual Content
- Use of Drugs
Grand Theft Auto IV
Rated Mature based on:
- Partial Nudity
- Strong Language
- Strong Sexual Content
- Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Blood
- Intense Violence
Things certainly have come a long way over the past decade. As always, you can discuss the news on our forums.