New Delhi: Days before Rockstar Games officially showcases its much-awaited Grand Theft Auto VI, a fresh wave of leaks of the game has surfaced online. This is accompanied by claims that a Rockstar India employee may have been compromised.
The leaked material, which includes gameplay footage and what is claimed to be the game’s full map, has been linked to a group calling itself CyberLeek. Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company, has issued copyright takedowns against some of the leaked content.
CyberLeek has threatened to release more GTA 6 material unless Rockstar meets its demands. The group has called for changes to the company’s digital distribution practices, including ending digital pre-orders and restoring physical copies.
Rumours circulating online claim that a Rockstar India employee was hacked through phishing and that CyberLeek later obtained a development build. Others allege that Russian hackers were involved and that the build was sold for around $50 million.
However, Rockstar and Take-Two are yet to comment on the leak, which means all claims online are mere speculation.
The latest leak comes ahead of Rockstar’s planned 27 August showcase of GTA 6. The game is scheduled for release on 19 November 2026.
What the leaks show
CyberLeek has presented the leaks as a protest against what it describes as anti-consumer practices in the gaming industry.
In a manifesto posted online, the group argued that digital pre-orders no longer benefit consumers because digital copies cannot sell out. “No consumer shall pay for a game through digital storefronts before release and independent review,” it said, arguing that physical pre-orders should remain available.
The group also criticised publishers for selling what it called “fake” single-player DLC, content it claims is already included in the base game but is later unlocked through a purchase. It has also demanded that games with single-player content remain playable even after companies stop supporting their online servers.
CyberLeek has threatened to continue releasing material until Rockstar issues an apology and commits to changing its practices. The group has even suggested that it could release the ending of GTA 6, spoiling the game for players before its official release.
The leaked footage goes beyond ordinary screenshots or promotional material. One video shows a character shooting at a wall to spell out the word “LEEK”, suggesting that the person who released it had access to a playable game build rather than simply obtaining pre-recorded footage. Tom’s Hardware reported that the latest clips appear to show the leaker playing the game themselves.
The leaked gameplay reportedly includes features such as basketball, vehicle interactions, openable and closable car trunks, a stamina bar, and an honour system similar to the one used in Red Dead Redemption 2. The leaked map reportedly shows five counties, a large railway network, and several smaller islands.
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A spoiler problem
The Rockstar India theory is not entirely new. Claims circulating online allege that an employee working for Rockstar India was targeted in a phishing attack, allowing hackers to gain access to Rockstar’s internal systems.
Rockstar has not confirmed that the latest leak originated with its India studio. Nor has it confirmed the phishing attack, the involvement of Russian hackers, or the reported $50 million sale.
In September 2022, an attacker gained access to Rockstar’s network and leaked around 90 videos showing an early version of GTA 6. The incident became one of the biggest video-game leaks in history and eventually led to the conviction of hacker Arion Kurtaj.
The latest material appears to be different from those earlier leaks, with gaming outlets reporting that the newly circulated clips are more recent and may come from an actual development build. Rockstar has responded by issuing DMCA takedown notices against videos and posts containing the leaked material.
It remains unclear how CyberLeek obtained the material or how much of the game the group has access to. But with Rockstar preparing to showcase GTA 6 on 27 August and the game scheduled to release in November, the leak has created a new security and spoiler problem for the company.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)