Target Australia to Remove GTA V From Shelves

Target Australia has been bombarded with feedback from customers about Grand Theft Auto V and have decided that the only thing left to do is take it off its shelves.

Joystiq reports that, following "feedback from customers about the game's depictions of violence against women," Target Australia will be removing Grand Theft Auto V from its shelves. "We've been speaking to many customers over recent days about the game, and there is a significnatn level of concern about the games content," said Target General Manager Corporate Affairs, Jim Cooper. While Target will continue to sell other R-rated DVDs and games, Cooper has stated that Target Australia feels, "the decision to stop selling GTA 5 is in line with the majority view of our customers."

However, it is speculated that Target Australia's decision could have been swayed because of the Change.org petition that has received over 41,000 signatures. The petition, posted by "Nicole Survivor" urges Target Australia to take the game off its shelves. "The misogynistic GTA 5 literally makes a game of bashing, killing and horrific violence against women," Survivor stated in the petition. Cooper seems to agree with her saying, "in the case of GTA 5, we have listened to the strong feedback from customers that this is not a product they want us to sell."

Target's Australian branch is separate from the U.S. division, so there's no worry stateside about something similar happening before the holiday. Australia has had its issues with mature games in the past, but in this case, it appears just one retailer is taking its consumers' wishes to heart.