Take-Two announced that the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has changed the rating of Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas on all platforms from "Mature 17+" (M) to "Adults Only 18+" (AO) because of the so-called "hot coffee mod," an unauthorized third party modification that alters the retail version of the game. This change leaves Rockstar with a considerable amount of egg on its face as the company had, initially, claimed that the "indecent" sexual material was not in the game but was added by the modification. The change in rating however, as well as Take Two's admission, leave no doubt that the controversial scenes were built-in to the game by its creators.
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas was last year's top selling console game, having distributed over 5.1 million copies in the U.S. and with Xbox and PC versions released only last month.
Rockstar Games has ceased manufacturing of the current version of the title and will begin working on a version of the game with enhanced security to prevent the hot coffee modifications. This version will retain the original ESRB M-rating and is expected to be available during the Company's fourth fiscal quarter. Rockstar Games will be providing AO labels for retailers who wish to continue to sell the current version of the title.
Rockstar Games will be making available shortly a downloadable software patch to render Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas for PC impervious to the hot coffee modification. Rockstar encourages parent groups and political leaders to assist with distribution of the patch to prevent the content of the modification from spreading further.
It is not clear if this patch will put an end to all attempts at modification of GTA:SA as that could well mean that many gamers willl not be able to enjoy the MTA version, currently being developed by the Multi Theft Auto team.
It seems that Take Two is considering taking legal action against the individual who created the Hot Coffee mod. It would seem unnecessary to do so, as the modification simply revealed material that was already included in the game and since its creator made it very clear what it was that his work was offering. Victimizing an individual for what is simply poor planning by a respected game developer would seem rather hypocritical of Rockstar, much like the pitiful display of disgust by a variety of senators, some of whom, by personal experience alone, should know better.
