Dubai: Even though the action-adventure video game — Grand Theft Auto V — will not be officially available in the UAE on Tuesday, online retailers are making brisk business.
The game for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 owners, developed by Rockstar North and published by Rockstar Games, will be released globally on Tuesday.
A previous instalment of Grand Theft Auto was banned in the UAE due to sex, drugs and vulgar content that breaches the cultural values of the nation.
According to an industry expert, the new version is also expected to be banned by the National Media Council.
He said the online sales do not come under the National Media Council and it is also available in certain retail stores.
According to market sources, the Grand Theft series has sold more than 100 million copies since 1997.
“We have been selling the game from Sunday. So far the sales have been good. We have sold almost 40 units. Right now, the game is available only for Xbox 360,” Omar Kassim, CEO and founder of JadoPado.com, told Gulf News.
JadoPado sells Grand Theft Auto V for Dh319 and another online retailer sells it for Dh350.
He said the PlayStation version is also available.
“So far we have not got any official note on the ban. The stocks are already in the supply chain despite the launch on Tuesday,” Kassim said.
