Kmart Australia has joined Target in pulling popular video game Grand Theft Auto V from its shelves after an online petition calling for its removal gained huge support.

The Change.org petition, started by three women who say they are survivors of sexual violence, claims the game encourages players to commit sexual violence against women.

A Kmart spokesman said the decision to remove the game had been made following a "significant review" of the content.

"Games like this are grooming yet another generation of boys to tolerate violence against women," the petition said.

Do you think Target was right to pull Grand Theft Auto Five from shelves? Yes 4947 No 13177

Target general manager of corporate affairs Jim Cooper said the chain would no longer sell the game.

"We've been speaking to many customers over recent days about the game, and there is a significant level of concern about the game's content," he said in a statement on Wednesday.

"We've also had customer feedback in support of us selling the game, and we respect their perspective on the issue.

"However, we feel the decision to stop selling GTA5 is in line with the majority view of our customers."

Mr Cooper said Target would continue to sell other R-rated DVDs and games.

"While these products often contain imagery that some customers find offensive, in the vast majority of cases, we believe they are appropriate products for us to sell to adult customers," he said.

"However, in the case of GTA5, we have listened to the strong feedback from customers that this is not a product they want us to sell."

GTA5 is an award-winning game which set a sales record for entertainment products, passing the $1 billion sales mark after three days.