Target Australia will stop retailing the R-rated game title Grand Theft Auto after customers raised concerns over the game's disturbing portrayal of violence against women. The decision seems to have been influenced by the Change.org petition that was launched by three women who claimed that they had survived violence.
The announcement caused 4,000 people, mostly gamers, to vent their frustration over the pullout on the retailer's Facebook page. Others also turned to Twitter to voice out their disgust.
One of the petitioners, using the code name "Nicole," said that the most dangerous part of the game is when it allows players to pay for simulated sex with a prostitute then kill her afterwards to get back the money.
"It's a game that encourages players to murder women for entertainment," said Nicole, who is joined by Claire and Kat in the campaign. "The incentive is to commit sexual violence against women, then abuse or kill them to proceed or get 'health' points -- and now Target are stocking it and promoting it for your Xmas stocking."
The petition has earned over 40,000 signatures from supporters. The website agreed that GTA V is indeed a game of "killing, bashing, and horrific violence against women."
According to vgchartz.com, Grand Theft was the second highest selling gaming title in the week that concluded on Nov. 22, with 2.4 million copies sold.
Nicole and the other petitioners wanted to pull the game particularly from Target since it is a large business that spans across all demographics. The retail store, which operates 183 Target stores and 125 Target Country stores in Australia, is now the largest department store chain in the region. Last year, it earned around A$3.5 billion in total revenues.
The banning of the controversial game has extended over Kmart as the retailer now joins Target in pulling the game from its shelves.
"Following a significant review of all content in Grand Theft Auto Games, Kmart has taken the decision to remove this product immediately. Kmart apologizes for not being closer to the content of this game," stated Kmart.
American CEO Strauss Zelnick of Take Two, GTA V's publisher, defended the game and said: "We are disappointed that an Australian retailer has chosen no longer to sell Grand Theft Auto V." Zelnick added that the game, which has been played by scores of millions of people, has earned extraordinary critical acclaim.
