Several new video clips, seemingly showcasing gameplay from Grand Theft Auto 6, have surfaced online. The footage, which includes driving sequences, a character playing basketball, and a potential overview of the game's map, began circulating from a website called Cyberleek.
This group has claimed responsibility for the leak and published a manifesto detailing its grievances against current video game industry practices. Cyberleek specifically targets what it calls "monetization schemes," including live-service models, the sale of digital licenses rather than true ownership, and the inclusion of locked content on physical discs presented as downloadable content. The group argues that these practices diminish the value gamers receive for their money.
Cyberleek outlined three "commandments" that it expects game publishers to follow. The group states it will "target" publishers who fail to adhere to these principles, demanding public statements, apologies, and concrete commitments to improve. According to Cyberleek, "words are not enough; restitution is mandatory."
While the full extent of Cyberleek's issues with Grand Theft Auto 6 is not entirely clear, the group's third commandment calls for "offline fallback states" for single-player content, ensuring games remain playable even if servers are shut down. This particular concern may not directly impact GTA 6's single-player campaign, which is unlikely to face server-related shutdowns in the near future.
The second commandment addresses "fake single-player DLC," which prohibits including content at launch that requires an additional purchase for unlock. Cyberleek points to the "Ultimate Edition" of GTA 6, which includes extra vehicles and cosmetics for an additional $20, as a potential violation. The group's manifesto states, "When someone pays USD 70+ for a game, they bought the data. All of it. Selling them a file that flips locked = true to locked = false for a single-player mission, character, weapon, or story chapter is charging them twice for the same product."
However, Cyberleek's primary stated grievance, and the most direct accusation against GTA 6, is its opposition to digital pre-orders. The group argues that in the era of digital distribution, where inventory limits are nonexistent, the practice of pre-ordering benefits publishers more than consumers. "Preorders were not created for gamers. They were created because physical discs had manufacturing limits. In digital distribution, there is no inventory. There is no stock shortage. A digital copy cannot sell out. Yet publishers kept the preorder system and stripped away its only consumer benefit. Now gamers pay early and receive nothing in return except a countdown timer and a cosmetic skin. If publishers want revenue before launch, they can press discs. Print boxes. Put them on shelves. Earn that money through physical production."
Given that Grand Theft Auto 6 is slated for a digital-only launch, with no physical edition immediately available, it directly conflicts with Cyberleek's first commandment. The group suggests that its actions might be a combination of issues concerning digital pre-orders and locked content, especially in light of reports that the more expensive digital-only ultimate edition of GTA 6 is experiencing high pre-order numbers.
Cyberleek explicitly stated its intention to target high-profile companies like Rockstar Games, issuing a warning: "If CYBERLEEK can reach Rockstar, no one is safe. This is a message to all big corpo: behave, or be the next target."
The manifesto concludes by reiterating the group's demand for "public statement[s] and apology[ies] with a concrete commitment to fix the harm they caused," asserting that "private negotiations" are unacceptable and that disruptions will continue until these demands are met publicly. Rockstar Games has not yet issued a public comment regarding the leak or Cyberleek's manifesto.