12 years after its original release on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, Grand Theft Auto 5 is now legal to purchase and own in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The game was given a surprise 21+ rating in June by Saudi Arabia's General Authority for Media Regulation and the UAE Media Council, and officially released in both countries today.
As noted by industry analysis firm Niko Partners, the lack of official approval for GTA 5 didn't mean it was actually unavailable. Gamers could opt to import the game from other countries (with some risk that it might be seized by customs, I suppose) or simply sign up for a digital storefront account based in another country.
