Rockstar Games has censored a Confederate battle flag from Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The Definitive Edition, according to the game’s latest trailer. The flag originally appeared on a shirt worn by character Phil Cassidy in GTA: Vice City, and it has been replaced wit a more generic skull design.

For the record, Grand Theft Auto is a “mature”-rated (17+) series where gamers play as criminals who can routinely commit robbery, assault, murder, have sex with prostitutes (and murder them, if you so choose), etc.; it was all specifically designed to offend. However, it seems that one person wearing a piece of clothing that is completely in character with being a redneck illegal arms dealer is a bridge too far for modern Rockstar.

Aside from raising concerns that Rockstar may have self-censored even more of these GTA games, free expression supporters are undoubtedly lamenting the loss of Rockstar as a long-standing advocate for artistic freedom in the face of controversy. Now that Rockstar has joined WB’s NetherRealm Studios in the self-censorship camp, there may be no remaining mainstream US video game developers who steadfastly opposed political correctness.

One might say that you will always be able to play the originals, and that’s largely true, although Rockstar delisted Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy from both Steam and consoles just prior to the release of this “definitive” edition. Never let go of those physical discs, folks.

Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy – The “Definitive” Edition is scheduled to release on 11 November for PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbone, and SeXbox.

Source: Niche Gamer

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