The "Grand Theft Auto VI" leak is speeding ahead without an exit in sight
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A preview screenshot from "Grand Theft Auto VI." Photo: Rockstar Games
An anonymous hacker has been leaking purported "Grand Theft Auto VI" gameplay footage this week and shows no signs of hitting the brakes.
Why it matters: "GTA VI" is one of the decade's most anticipated games, so unauthorized footage could complicate the publisher's rollout.
Stunning stat: Take-Two Interactive, the parent company behind the game's publisher Rockstar, lost $2 billion in market cap amid the recent leaks. The value has since rebounded.
Driving the news: An anonymous hacker using the handle LEEK has shared at least six clips seemingly showing "GTA VI" gameplay, including:
- A cutscene of the game's protagonist drinking beer on a boat.
- Gameplay of a woman stealing a car, getting chased by the cops and then shooting at law enforcement from a rooftop.
- Footage of a plane released after the hacker asked fans to vote on what to leak next by buying a memecoin.
- A map of the game's fictional state of Leonida.
The hacker went silent for 24 hours, fueling speculation they had been caught, before resurfacing Friday with footage of a character destroying a Bugatti.
Reality check: There has been some skepticism about whether these are real leaks or if the clips are polished versions of the older "GTA V." Rockstar has not officially confirmed the footage.
- But one leaked clip, in which the hacker wrote "LEEK" with bullets on a wall, seemed to win over public opinion, with many deeming the files real.
- Many now believe the leaker has the full game, especially as posters have been hit with DMCA takedown notices.
- Most of the leaks have been pulled from social media after copyright claims, and at least one account posting them has been suspended from X.
What they're saying: The hacker says the leaks are a protest against Rockstar taking digital preorders without offering a physical edition of "GTA VI."
- "Preorders were not created for gamers. They were created because physical discs had manufacturing limits," the leaker reportedly posted online.
- "If publishers want revenue before launch, they can press discs. Print boxes. Put them on shelves. Earn that money through physical production."
- The hacker also reportedly threatened Rockstar and other companies to "behave" or suffer similar leaks for their games.
The other side: Rockstar and Take-Two did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Axios.
- Take-Two has requested federal subpoenas to Microsoft and Discord seeking details related to the leaks.
- This isn't the first time Rockstar has had to handle "GTA VI" leaks.
Zoom out: Accounts sharing the clips have garnered millions of views across X, YouTube and TikTok.
- "If this is real… Rockstar is cooking something INSANE," wrote one excited fan on X.
Yes, but: Some gamers are worried the hacker will share crucial details of the "GTA VI" story before its launch in November.
- "It is going to be very irritating for millions of people to potentially dodge story spoilers for three months," writes gaming journalist Paul Tassi on X.
What's next: Rockstar plans to release new footage in a Netflix special on Aug. 28.
- How much of that has already leaked is anyone's guess (except for, maybe, LEEKs).
Go deeper: The video game industry is running out of extra lives
