GTA 6 Leaks Trigger Subpoenas as Take-Two Hunts Leaker

Take-Two Interactive has subpoenaed Microsoft and Discord to identify the person or group leaking Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay footage, according to court filings reported by Kotaku. The leaks, which began August 18, show a working build of the game, including protagonist Jason Duval performing various activities and spelling "LEEK" by shooting a wall Source: The Verge.

The leaks

The leaked clips, watermarked "CyberLeek," appear to be from a complete, unreleased build of GTA VI, not just internal recordings Source: Tom's Hardware. Engadget describes footage showing Jason at a waterside home, engaging in basketball, driving, and a fight with a wrench, alongside a map of Leonida resembling south Florida Source: Engadget. The leaker claims to protest Rockstar's anti-consumer practices, such as not releasing a disc version at launch, but many observers are skeptical, noting the leaker solicits cryptocurrency donations Source: BBC.

Legal response

Take-Two filed petitions in the Southern District of New York, asking Microsoft for records related to a GitHub repository and the "cyberleek" persona, and Discord for identifying information on several accounts and servers, including those of GTA V content creator DarkViperAU Source: Engadget. The subpoenas give the companies until September 4 to respond Source: The Verge.

Impact and context

Industry analysts downplay the leaks' long-term impact. IGN's Wesley Yin-Poole calls GTA 6 "an unprecedented moment in pop culture history," suggesting the leaks will become "a footnote" Source: BBC. However, the leaks come ahead of Rockstar's extended preview on Netflix on August 27, and the game's launch on November 19 Source: The Verge. This is not the first GTA VI leak; in 2022, an 18-year-old hacker leaked footage and received an indefinite hospital order Source: Engadget.