Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6 has leaked online with an alleged 90 videos of footage circulating around the web.
If that’s not enough the originating hacker has claimed that they have the game’s source code and would like to “Negotiate” with developer Rockstar and parent company Take-Two Interactive over it.
The footage was uploaded to GTAForums by user teapotuberhacker who claims he has 90 clips of footage. He also said he has the GTA 5 and 6 source codes and assets as well as the GTA6 testing build. The original post has now been taken down.
“i am looking to negotiate a deal”
GTA VI leaker says they’ve woken up to thousands of messages and are calling on people from Rockstar/Take Two to contact them. pic.twitter.com/cnPs57NAt7
— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) September 18, 2022
Much of the leaked footage has now been taken down by Rockstar, which affirms that it is probably real. Prior to the post gets taken down, teapotuberhacker also asked for Rockstar or Take 2 Interactive to contact him to “negotiate a deal”. Considering the footage allegedly in his possession many have taken this to mean that they wish to extort or blackmail Rockstar using the source code.
It should be noted that if the hacker really has the GTA 6 source code, it could be extremely detrimental to the developers. The source code is the central build of a game and it getting into an unauthorized third-party hand and potentially leaked to the public can create problems in terms of the development and marketing of the game.
The new leaks leaked GTA 6 images line up with a prior Bloomberg report by Jason Schreier (via VGC) regarding GTA 6 including that the game will take place in Vice City and will feature male and female protagonists.
“Rockstar’s next game, Grand Theft Auto VI, will include a playable female protagonist,”
“The woman, who is Latina, will be one of a pair of leading characters in a story influenced by the bank robbers Bonnie and Clyde, the people said. Developers are also being cautious not to “punch down” by making jokes about marginalized groups, the people said, in contrast to previous games.”
Schreier has since taken to Twitter saying that he has confirmed with Rockstar sources that the leaks are real and that this could very well be the biggest leak in video game history.
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
We do not know the long-term effects of the leak however many analysts believe that it will disrupt the game’s development to some extent.
To those who asked: There are several reasons this is a nightmare for Rockstar. One is that it’ll disrupt work for a while. Another is that it may lead management to limit work-from-home flexibility. The repercussions of this leak might not be clear for quite a while
— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) September 18, 2022
Many users are now saying that GTA 6 looks bad performance-wise from the leak but we should keep in mind that this footage is of any unfinished prototype that wasn’t made for the public eye. The game will likely look far better for its official reveal.