Pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto VI have gone live worldwide, but gamers in several Arab countries appear unable to access the long-awaited title through some local digital storefronts, fuelling rumours that the game could face regional restrictions.
Sony’s PlayStation storefronts in Lebanon, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar and Oman do not currently list the game for pre-order, The New Arab can confirm, after reviewing the platform on 25 June.
The game, one of the most anticipated crime capers in video game history, was made available for pre-order overnight and is scheduled to launch on 19 November, 2026.
Neither Rockstar Games nor its parent company, Take-Two Interactive, has announced any ban in the region. Authorities in the four Gulf states have also not issued public statements confirming that the game has been blocked or refused classification.
However, the absence of pre-order listings on some local digital storefronts has created uncertainty among gamers, particularly as pre-orders become available in other markets.
The speculation is fuelled in part by the franchise’s history in the region. Previous Grand Theft Auto titles have faced restrictions or delayed releases in parts of the Middle East and Gulf due to mature content, including depictions of violence, criminal activity, drug use and explicit themes. Other major games have also faced censorship or limited availability in the region for similar reasons.
Gamers in countries where titles are not available locally have often turned to alternative regional storefronts on platforms such as PlayStation and Xbox, although such workarounds may be subject to platform terms and conditions.
