Hyderabad, July 20 -- Twelve years after its initial global release, Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V) and its online multiplayer counterpart GTA Online have officially launched in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The launch took place on Thursday, July 17, following regulatory approval under newly implemented age-rating guidelines.

Although never officially "banned," the games were effectively blocked due to strict media regulations surrounding mature content. The restrictions-initially imposed over depictions of violence, drug use, sexual themes, and criminal activity-were lifted after both countries granted the titles a 21+ classification.

The official release spans PlayStation 5, Xbox, and PC, available in ...