The advocacy group Stop Killing Games has publicly distanced itself from the recent Grand Theft Auto 6 leaks, stating that the use of illegal means to make a point is unacceptable and urging its followers not to participate in or financially support such actions. The group noted that the leaked materials contain language and demands, such as the requirement for games to have an "offline fallback state" to ensure continued playability after server shutdowns, which are familiar to those following the Stop Killing Games campaign.
Despite the apparent authenticity of the leaks, evidenced by Take-Two Interactive's swift copyright strikes, Stop Killing Games pointed out that the leaker is promoting a cryptocurrency and soliciting payment for additional footage. The group strongly advised against sending money to the individuals involved, emphasizing that these actions are illegal and are causing distress to the developers at Rockstar Games.
"Using illegal means to make a point is unacceptable to us and does nothing to protect our right to keep using what we paid for," the statement read. Stop Killing Games highlighted that such actions negatively impact the thousands of developers who worked on the project, rather than solely targeting upper management.
The group also cautioned about the potential repercussions for the leaker, referencing the fate of an individual involved in a previous GTA 6 leak in 2022, who was placed under an indefinite hospital order. This individual is currently in prison awaiting a retrial for their role in a 2022 hack that exposed GTA 6.
Stop Killing Games encouraged its community to channel their frustrations into more constructive efforts, warning that leaks of this nature risk damaging the reputation of their communities and hindering progress on their advocacy goals. The organization indicated that these leaks are already being discussed negatively in their conversations with lawmakers.
At least two more alleged GTA 6 videos have surfaced since the initial leak. Rockstar Games is scheduled to release its official "Extended Look" at Grand Theft Auto 6 on August 27, with the trailer premiering on Netflix before becoming widely available six hours later.