UPDATE: Target Australia Remove GTA V From Shelves

UPDATE: It’s also being reported by Gizmodo that Kmart are now pulling GTA V from shelves. A number of stores have already started doing so.

After a well-publicised consumer backlash, Target Australia have decided that it’s in their best interest to remove Grand Theft Auto 5 from shelves permanently. Whilst it’s unclear why Target were the only ones being targeted by parenting groups around Australia, it’s evident that they have given in to peer-pressure. Target say that they will go on to stock R18+ games in the future. You can find the full statement below.

Target General Manager Corporate Affairs Jim Cooper said the decision was made following extensive community and customer concern about the game.

“We’ve been speaking to many customers over recent days about the game, and there is a significant level of concern about the game’s content,” Mr Cooper said.

“We’ve also had customer feedback in support of us selling the game, and we respect their perspective on the issue.

“However, we feel the decision to stop selling GTA5 is in line with the majority view of our customers.” Mr Cooper said Target would continue to sell other R-rated DVDs and games.

“While these products often contain imagery that some customers find offensive, in the vast majority of cases, we believe they are appropriate products for us to sell to adult customers.

“However, in the case of GTA5, we have listened to the strong feedback from customers that this is not a product they want us to sell.”