Rockstar Games employees are reportedly feeling a mix of anger and frustration due to a fresh wave of Grand Theft Auto 6 leaks. This latest breach follows the implementation of stringent security protocols, including the dissolution of remote work policies, which were put in place after a significant hack in 2022 exposed the game to the public.
The individual responsible, operating under the alias "Cyberleek," has been consistently posting new gameplay footage from GTA 6 daily for several days. It is believed that the leaker may have access to a version of the game, though it remains unclear if this build represents the full title or merely a portion of it.
Despite these leaks, the official reveal for Grand Theft Auto 6 is still slated for next week and will premiere exclusively on Netflix for the initial six hours.
Analysts and observers believe these leaks are unlikely to have a significant impact on Grand Theft Auto 6's eventual sales. Take-Two has already reported an "unprecedented" number of preorders for the game. The exclusive Netflix reveal is also not expected to be substantially harmed, as the leaked clips, while low in quality and watermarked, may have only served to increase anticipation for the official presentation.
Many online sentiments echo this view, with players expressing even greater excitement for the game following the leaks. The leaked footage also offers a potentially more candid look at the game's mechanics than the highly polished official trailers. For instance, one clip shows a moment where the player character struggles briefly to exit a river, exhibiting minor "jank" before the animation corrects itself—a detail that is unlikely to be featured in the carefully curated official reveal.
This situation is particularly galling for Rockstar employees, who had submitted to increased security measures. The frustration is compounded by recent events where Rockstar terminated over 30 employees. The company cited discussions about work matters on a private Discord channel, which had also been used for labor organizing, as the reason for the dismissals. This action has been met with accusations of being a "blatant and ruthless act of union busting."
There is no indication that the recently terminated employees are connected to the current leaks. The timing of the leaks, while employees were let go for discussing work in a private channel that did not involve any leaks, is likely to cause further internal dismay.
"Cyberleek" is not expected to escape consequences. Rockstar is actively attempting to locate the leaker and has initiated legal proceedings, filing subpoenas with Microsoft and Discord in relation to the distributed videos. The individual responsible for the 2022 Rockstar hack is currently in prison awaiting a retrial, having been held in a secure hospital since 2023, illustrating the potential severity of such breaches.
It is anticipated that "Cyberleek" will ultimately find the notoriety and potential financial gains from the leaks were not worth the repercussions, though their ability to evade Rockstar's pursuit remains to be seen.