Grand Theft Auto VI, one of the most anticipated games of the year, is still three months away from its release, but it’s already dealing with another leak.
Several clips appearing to show GTA VI gameplay have surfaced online ahead of Rockstar’s planned “extended look” at the game, which is set to premiere on Netflix next week. At least three clips have reportedly circulated, although two were subsequently removed from the site where they were viewed following copyright claims.
One of the removed videos showed a relatively quiet moment in which Jason Duval, one of the game’s two protagonists, shoots a basketball into a hoop.
A second clip was much more in line with the franchise’s reputation, showing Duval attacking someone with a wrench and what looked like the return of a six-star Wanted system, an in-game mechanic that shows the severity of the crime the player has committed and police response to it.
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Another video showed Duval driving at night, fighting people, using a taser, and stealing a truck before switching to what appeared to be a daytime cutscene from another section of the game. The footage was watermarked by a person or group calling itself “CyberLeek.”
The video also promoted a CyberLeek cryptocurrency and included a QR code and links to questionable-looking websites. The clip contained the message, “NO PHYSICAL DISCS? THEN MORE LEEKS!”, apparently referring to Rockstar’s decision not to release GTA VI on a physical disc at launch.
Neither Rockstar Games nor parent company Take-Two Interactive immediately responded to requests for comment about the apparent leaks.
In September 2022, roughly 90 videos containing early development footage from the game were posted online, creating one of the biggest leaks in video game history. This happened more than a year before Rockstar officially unveiled GTA VI.
The game’s first official trailer struggled to make it to its scheduled debut without leaking. After a version appeared online ahead of time in December 2023, Rockstar released the trailer early rather than wait for its planned premiere.
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The anticipation surrounding GTA VI is already affecting the broader release calendar, with other publishers largely avoiding major November launches and moving some of their biggest titles earlier in the year. Grand Theft Auto VI, priced at $79.99, is scheduled for release on November 19.
The game’s “extended look” is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on August 27 at 3 p.m. ET, followed by a YouTube stream at 9 p.m. ET. This presentation will arrive less than three months before one of the gaming industry’s most closely watched launches in years.
Rockstar’s recent efforts to address cybersecurity concerns are notable, given the latest leak. Earlier this year, the company confirmed that some of its data had been compromised through the hacking of a third-party provider. Rockstar said at the time that the breach would have “no impact on our organization or our players.”
The timing of the newest apparent leaks raises concerns about the company’s ability to protect its intellectual property.