Rockstar Breaks Silence on GTA 6 Leaks: “Heartbreaking for Our Team”
Rockstar Games has finally addressed the wave of Grand Theft Auto 6 gameplay leaks that have flooded social media over the past week. In an unprecedented public statement published on social media Wednesday morning, the studio called the leaks “heartbreaking for our team” and confirmed the game is “nearly there” in terms of development.
Rockstar’s Full Statement
The statement, posted on Instagram and X, read:
“It would be an understatement to say that having videos of Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay leak in this way has been heartbreaking for our team, and this is obviously not how we intended for you to see the game after all this time. We are very sorry that everything has taken as long as it has — from getting the game finished (nearly there!) to sharing more details and official gameplay, and providing the community with everything you want to know.”
The studio also warned that the leaked footage may contain spoilers that could impact the intended game experience, and thanked the community for their support during what has clearly been a difficult week for the developer.
Who Is Behind the Leaks?
An individual or group calling themselves “CyberLeek” has claimed responsibility for the leaks, which began appearing on August 19. The clips showed:
- Jason playing basketball at his safe house
- Jason causing chaos on the roads of Vice City’s version of South Florida
- Jason walking through a nudist colony
- Jason cycling along an impressively crowded beach
- A carjacking sequence with a “Rideout Customs” branded vehicle
- Lucia appearing briefly in what looked like a cutscene
Strangely, the leaker also promoted a cryptocurrency in the clips and claimed to be protesting anti-consumer practices in the gaming industry — specifically Rockstar’s decision to release the physical edition of GTA 6 as a code in a box rather than on a disc.
Take-Two’s Legal Response
Publisher Take-Two Interactive has been aggressive in its response. The company has requested to subpoena Microsoft and Discord to identify the source of the leaks. Discord’s marketing director Ryan K. Rigney stated the company had “not yet been served with a subpoena” and would evaluate any request once received.
Rockstar was reportedly “all hands on deck” to figure out how the leaks happened, according to Bloomberg. The developer has been issuing takedown notices across social media platforms, though new clips continue to appear.
Why This Matters
This is one of the most significant leak events in gaming history. GTA 6 is arguably the most anticipated game of all time — its predecessor sold over 195 million copies. The leaks have forced Rockstar’s hand, pushing them to release their official Extended Look on Netflix today (August 27) sooner than they may have originally planned.
The statement also confirms something fans have been desperate to hear: the game is nearly finished. GTA 6 launches November 19 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
What Should You Do?
- Avoid leaked footage — Rockstar has warned it contains spoilers that may impact your experience
- Watch the official Extended Look on Netflix today at 3:00 PM ET / 10:00 PM TRT
- Report any leaked content you see to help protect the developers’ work
- Pre-order GTA 6 ahead of its November 19 launch