IEMA retailers to cease selling San Andreas

The Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association (IEMA) has issued the following statement following news that Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas has had its rating changed from M to AO.

“The ESRB (Entertainment Software Ratings Board) notified us late this afternoon Eastern Time that they have revoked the “Mature” rating previously issued for Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, following an extensive investigation. Our members intend to immediately cease all sales of the game until existing inventory can either be re-stickered with an AO (Adults Only) rating, or exchanged for new versions of the game that has the hidden content removed and the original M (Mature 17+) rating intact. Though not a policy, IEMA members generally do not carry AO-rated games any differently than we do not carry X-rated videos or DVDs, thus it is likely that our members will be removing all copies of the current version and re-stocking with the updated version.“

Member companies of the IEMA collectively make up seventy-five percent of the $10.4 billion annual interactive entertainment business in the United States. The press release also says that several none IEMA retailers are planning to continue selling the game even with the AO rating.