Hacker Publishes GTA VI Gameplay Videos and Threatens to Leak More

Yesterday, a hacker published 90 in-development gameplay videos of GTA VI, the next installment in the blockbuster Grand Theft Auto series. The hacker published the videos on the unofficial GTA Forums, adding that they obtained access to a GTA VI test build as well as source code for both GTA VI and GTA V.

Even though the gameplay footage in the videos looked unpolished, Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier confirmed that they were legitimate, citing Rockstar Games sources. “This is one of the biggest leaks in video game history and a nightmare for Rockstar Games,” Schreier tweeted

Not that there was much doubt, but I’ve confirmed with Rockstar sources that this weekend’s massive Grand Theft Auto VI leak is indeed real. The footage is early and unfinished, of course. This is one of the biggest leaks in video game history and a nightmare for Rockstar Games

— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) September 18, 2022

It is indeed a nightmare for the company as the hack could significantly impact the development of GTA VI. “It is possible I could leak more data soon,” the hacker wrote on the unofficial GTA Forums. They also claimed in another message that they were behind the massive hack of Uber last week, though this has yet to be confirmed. “I am looking to negotiate a deal,” the hacker also wrote on the forums.

Rockstar has yet to publish an official statement about the hack, and we’ll update this post if the company does later today. “Employees of Rockstar Games, the Take-Two studio that makes Grand Theft Auto, were stunned by the leak, the people familiar with the project said. Many were grappling with the implications of the event and how management would respond to it,” Schreier reported yesterday.

Anyway, the consequences of this hack could be really devastating for the company, especially if the hacker did get access to the source code for GTA VI and GTA V. So far, the company only confirmed back in February that “active development for the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series is well underway.” Bloomberg previously reported that GTA VI would feature a playable female protagonist for the first time, and the game may also mark a return to a fictional version of Miami previously seen in GTA: Vice City.

Update 9:20 AM ET: Rockstar Games has just confirmed the hack in an official statement. “We recently suffered a network intrusion in which an unauthorized third party illegally accessed and downloaded confidential information from our systems, including early development footage for the next Grand Theft Auto,” the company explained. “At this time, we do not anticipate any disruption to our live game services nor any long-term effect on the development of our ongoing project.”

The company added that it was “extremely disappointed” that this unfinished gameplay footage leaked yesterday, but that it “will properly introduce you to this next game when it is ready.” 

A Message from Rockstar Games pic.twitter.com/T4Wztu8RW8

— Rockstar Games (@RockstarGames) September 19, 2022