Take-Two Interactive president Karl Slatoff has criticised Australian retailers Target and Kmart over their decision not to sell Grand Theft Auto 5 in the country.
In comments reported by GameSpot during a BMO Capital Markets Technology and Digital Media Conference talk, Slatoff called the ban a "poor leadership decision" that "flies in the face of everything that free society's based on".
Slatoff argued that by refusing to sell the game, the retailers were overstepping their boundaries and making that decision for consumers. "If you don't like it; if it's offensive to you, then you don't buy it," he commented. "We have 34 million people who have bought Grand Theft Auto 5. If these folks had their way, none of those people would be able to buy Grand Theft Auto.
"It's the freedom of expression, and to try to quelch that is a very dangerous and slippery slope to go down," he continued. "So it's really more disappointing for us in that regard than it is in the context of our business. Our business is going to be completely unaffected by this. It doesn't make a difference to us."
Slatoff added that this won't affect sales of the game, as it's still widely available elsewhere in the country. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick also addressed the ban issuing the statement:
"We are disappointed that an Australian retailer has chosen no longer to sell Grand Theft Auto 5 – a title that has won extraordinary critical acclaim and has been enjoyed by tens of millions of consumers around the world. Grand Theft Auto 5 explores mature themes and content similar to those found in many other popular and groundbreaking entertainment properties.
"Interactive entertainment is today's most compelling art form and shares the same creative freedom as books, television, and movies. I stand behind our products, the people who create them, and the consumers who play them."
Grand Theft Auto 5 is available now on PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One and is coming to PC in January.
