The ongoing leaks of Grand Theft Auto 6 have entered a more aggressive phase, with the hacking group Cyberleek encouraging fans to engage in direct harassment of Rockstar Games and its publisher, Take-Two Interactive. The group has also begun monetizing the stolen data, soliciting cryptocurrency and even demanding physical demonstrations outside company offices.
The perpetrators, who have evaded identification thus far, are leveraging Arweave, a decentralized storage protocol, to host their leaked content. This method makes it exceedingly difficult for Take-Two to fully remove the website, as data on Arweave is replicated by miners. While some users attempting to access the site encounter content blocking messages, the leaks persist through different gateways on the network.
Rockstar and Take-Two have been actively pursuing legal channels to identify the hackers, issuing subpoenas against Microsoft, Discord, and most recently, social media platform X. Despite these efforts, the developers reportedly remain frustrated and exhausted by the repeated security breaches, especially following stricter measures implemented after a significant leak in 2023. The exact method of the latest breach remains undetermined.
Cyberleek has expanded its activities beyond simply sharing stolen footage. The group has introduced options for potential advertising placements on their leak site and is offering custom gameplay content for an undisclosed fee. In a move that further blurs the line between activism and profit, Cyberleek has been soliciting fan votes on what to release next, with some content being unlocked only after reaching cryptocurrency milestones. For instance, a recent leak of strip club footage was reportedly released after the group's cryptocurrency market cap reached $3 million.
The most recent demand from Cyberleek escalates the stakes, stipulating that "at least 10 gamers need to show up dressed as leeks in front of Take2/Rock* offices holding game discs during working hours" before more footage will be released. The group claims to be motivated by Take-Two and Rockstar's decision to forgo a physical disc release for GTA 6, but their actions suggest a primary interest in financial gain. This demand for physical protest echoes a previous incident where a YouTuber was arrested for attempting to enter Rockstar's Edinburgh office.