Target announced it will not stock the controversial 'Manhunt 2' video game. "All video games and computer software sold at Target currently carry ratings by the Entertainment Software Rating Board — from early childhood through mature audiences," Target's statement said.

"While 'Manhunt 2' was given a 'Mature' rating by the ESRB, we received additional information that players can potentially view previously filtered content by altering the game code. As a result, we have decided not to carry the game."

Rockstar released Manhunt 2 on 30 October in the US, on Wii, PlayStation 2 and PSP, as a retail version for audience aged 17 and above, and shortly after hackers found a way to reactivate some adult scenes in the PSP and PS2 versions of the game.

This means the hackers found a way to overcome the special blurring filters activated at ESRB's request. In order to make an M-rated Manhunt 2, Rockstar had done multiple revised edits. Rockstar commented that hackers have altered one of these edits and produced an illegally modified version of the game. This illegal version can only be played on a hacked PlayStation Portable handheld system or Playstation 2.

"It's a big blow, in the sense of that's a place where people are buying lots of games. As a result, it's going to reduce the number of people that will see it," said of Target's decision Mr. Michael Gartenberg, the vice president and research director of Jupiter research, as quoted by ABC News.

After the hack surfaced, ESRB said it will not change its 'Mature' rating, because the company was not at fault and the hack did not fully restore the violence in the version previously rated 'Adult Only'. Rockstar stated that all game material and especially these revised edits were submitted to and reviewed by the ERSB. Take-Two Chairman Strauss Zelnick encouraged customers to enjoy the M version of Manhunt 2 as it was meant to be played, according to ESRB ratings. He also added: "We hope that consumers will not engage in hacking or download illegally modified copies of our games."