Regional File Size Differences
As of yesterday, Grand Theft Auto VI can now be preloaded on both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X. In most regions, the preload file size is 209.913 GB on PS5 and 209.86 GB on Xbox Series S/X. However, players in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan are encountering smaller file sizes.
In Japan, the preload file size is reported to be 208.725 GB on PS5 and 208.74 GB on Xbox, which is approximately 1.19 GB smaller than the standard version. Players in Australia and New Zealand are seeing an even smaller file size, with reports indicating that the PS5 version is 0.688 MB slimmer than the standard size.
This discrepancy has led to concerns about potential censorship, particularly in Japan, where users on X have speculated that the country's strict CERO ratings board may have removed content from GTA VI. Reports suggest that the missing content could relate to the game's more explicit themes.
Censorship Concerns Arise
Japanese users have expressed worries that the 1.2 GB difference in file size indicates that GTA VI's more risqué and violent content has been altered or removed. Additionally, dataminer Tex2 has identified that the Australian and New Zealand versions are missing a file chunk titled 'core_restofworld001', although its exact contents remain unclear.
Despite these changes, GTA VI has avoided receiving a 'Refused Classification' rating in Australia, which would restrict its sales. The game's rating on the Australian Classification website appears consistent with its ESRB and PEGI ratings. However, the Australian government has recently taken a hard stance on in-game gambling, leading to other games being refused classification for similar reasons.
Players in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan can still pre-install GTA VI, but they will not be downloading the same file as players in other regions. This could affect the game's content and features available to them at launch, depending on what is included or excluded in the smaller file sizes.
