Rockstar Games Breaks Silence on 'GTA6' Gameplay Footage Leak
The leak surfaced just days before the scheduled premiere of the official extended look at the game, which went on to draw more than 9 million YouTube views within about 20 hours.
Key Facts
- Rockstar Games released its statement on the leak on August 26 via its official X account.
- Grand Theft Auto VI is scheduled for release on November 19, 2026, for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
- Take-Two Interactive filed subpoenas against Microsoft, Discord, X Corp., and Google in U.S. federal court to identify the leaker.
- The official extended look video surpassed 9 million views on YouTube in about 20 hours after its release.
- Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look premiered on Netflix on August 28 before releasing on YouTube and the official website.
Reporting from 6 sources: Denfaminicogamer, Automaton, KAI-YOU, GameBusiness.jp, and 2 more.
Rockstar Games released a statement on August 26 via its official X account addressing the recent leak of gameplay footage from the upcoming open-world title Grand Theft Auto VI. The company described the unauthorized disclosure of the footage as an incredibly difficult event for the development team, noting that it was not how they intended for players to see the game. The statement also acknowledged that the leaked materials contained genuine gameplay, confirming the authenticity of the videos that had been circulating since mid-August.
Rockstar Games confirmed that the leaked videos circulating since mid-August were authentic gameplay footage from Grand Theft Auto VI. The company apologized for the delay in delivering detailed information and official footage, while also stating that the game was nearly complete. The statement asked players to wait until the November 19 release date to experience the game themselves, and expressed gratitude for supportive community messages.
The leak prompted Take-Two Interactive to file subpoenas against Microsoft, Discord, X Corp., and Google in U.S. federal court in an effort to identify the leaker. An individual calling themselves CyberLeek had claimed responsibility for the leak, citing protest against practices disadvantageous to consumers. Some of the leaked footage was removed following copyright infringement claims.
The official response came ahead of the premiere of Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look, which debuted on Netflix on August 28 before releasing on YouTube and the official website. The approximately 26-minute video showcased story elements, combat, and various activities including strength training, weightlifting, and basketball.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 6 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- Denfaminicogamer 『GTA6』の公式プレイ動画がYouTubeだけで再生回数「900万回」を突破、公開からわずか1日。「11月が待ちきれない」「この時代に生まれてきて良かった」と絶賛するコメントが殺到
- Automaton 『グランド・セフト・オートVI（GTA 6）』だけで、「今年のコンソール市場が強烈に底上げ」との予測。世界の買い切りゲーム売上が“約18％”も伸びそう
- KAI-YOU 世界的注目ゲーム『GTA6』の未公開映像が流出 開発チームは「胸が張り裂ける思い」と吐露
- GameBusiness.jp 『GTA6』YouTubeと公式サイトでもNetflix先行公開映像が解禁！広大なオープンワールドや進化したカーチェイスなどを見よ―犬も撫でられる
- Inside 犬も撫でられる『GTA6』、Netflix先行公開映像がYouTubeと公式サイトでも解禁ー広大なオープンワールドや進化したカーチェイスなどを見よ
- Game Spark 『GTA6』Netflix先行公開映像がYouTubeでも解禁！広大なオープンワールドや進化したカーチェイスなどを見よ―犬も撫でられる