Grand Theft Auto VI suffered what may be its biggest leak yet, and Rockstar and Take-Two are taking action. Rockstar has been fighting leaks since the first footage of Grand Theft Auto 6, featuring Jason and Lucia, leaked online in September 2022, over a year before the sequel was formally announced. Even with just three months to go until the Rockstar release and an extended look coming to Netflix on Thursday, August 27, new footage has surfaced online from a mysterious "Cyberleek," who seems to have access to an in-development build of the game.
In response to the unfortunate wave of leaks, Rockstar and Take-Two have issued a subpoena to Microsoft and Discord. The action gives Microsoft until Friday, September 4, to hand over "all internal Microsoft business records and investigative records" related to the Cyberleak person/group, in the interest of "obtaining the identity of the alleged infringer or infringers" (via Kotaku).
Furthermore, Discord must turn over "identifying information" related to any members who used the servers involved from June 1, 2026, onward. Both subpoenas are filed with "the purpose of protecting Take-Two's rights."
After sharing footage revealing high-speed driving, basketball, and cutscenes, Cyberleek has issued something of a manifesto. The group called out Rockstar and other game developers for "anti-consumerism" and how "they kill games and keep the money," insisting that they will not back down with their leaks until the developer makes a "public statement and apology with a concrete commitment to be better (via PC Gamer).
Why Rockstar Needs to Shut Down GTA 6's Biggest Leaks
High-profile leaks are nothing new for the gaming industry's biggest releases, but, as one of the most significant entertainment releases of all time, it's no surprise that Rockstar is taking those plaguing Grand Theft Auto VI seriously. Major leaks of unfinished development can spoil major narrative details and harm marketing plans, potentially resulting in a loss of sales in the worst cases.
Insomniac Games suffered one of the worst leaks in gaming history, unleashing early development Wolverine gameplay that drew criticism (much of it due to its unfinished state) and spoiled the fact that Jean Grey would be playable. Meanwhile, The Last of Us 2 developer Naughty Dog had to contend with backlash on the run-up to release after leaks spoiled Joel's controversial death.
Rockstar will be eager to keep GTA 6's biggest surprises and mysteries intact in the coming months, and this leak will be a major obstacle in that process, especially if Cyberleek actually has access to a playable build. Obtaining information from Microsoft and Discord will be an integral stage in that process, which could lead to severe criminal action for data theft and extortion.
Next up for Rockstar's official marketing campaign is Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look, coming to Netflix on Thursday, August 27, at 3 p.m. ET. Now that pre-orders are running on PS5 and Xbox Series X, with just three months to go until the first GTA game in 13 years hits digital storefronts, it may be time for Rockstar to finally reveal actual gameplay, storyline details, and looks at the map.
Unfortunately, one thing that Rockstar almost certainly won't reveal for now at its first-of-its-kind Netflix event is the next generation of GTA Online. The game is expected to launch as a single-player experience, with the multiplayer sandbox that will carry Grand Theft Auto through the next decade arriving post-launch, meaning that its full reveal may be saved until close to release or soon after.
