 Rockstar ultimately released the censored version that was released in the US and UK markets, with an 18+ PEGI certificate.The first game was banned in New Zealand on 11 December 2003, with possession deemed an offence.Bill Hastings, the Chief Censor, stated "it's a game where the only thing you do is kill everybody you see [...] You have to at least acquiesce in these murders and possibly tolerate, or even move towards enjoying them, which is injurious to the public good."