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'GTA VI' hackers threaten a nightmare scenario

The group may have an actual working build of the game—not just stolen videos.

• less than 3 min read

TOPICS: Entertainment / Gaming / Game Developer Economics

The most anticipated video game of the decade may be suffering its most catastrophic leak yet: A hacktivist group called CyberLeek has allegedly been releasing unauthorized Grand Theft Auto VI footage all week, in protest against what it described as “monetization schemes.”

Worst case: The whole game gets spoiled. Yesterday, CyberLeek posted a clip (its fifth since Tuesday) that shows a GTA VI protagonist shooting the word “LEEK” into a wall:

  • This suggested that the group may have an actual working build of the game—not just stolen videos.
  • The group has said that it won’t stop releasing footage until publisher Rockstar Games and parent company Take-Two make certain business changes.
  • A prevailing fear is that CyberLeek may spoil the game bit by bit: It already apparently posted the game map.

CyberLeek appears to be opposed to Take-Two’s unpopular decisions to make GTA VI digital-only and paywall some in-game features behind the $100 Ultimate Edition. “No physical discs? Then more leeks!” the group wrote on one of its clips. Per its manifesto, CyberLeek is “raising funds for a secret project” and will target any game publisher that it considers to be acting against consumers’ interests.

Great timing: Netflix is set to air an official extended look at GTA VI gameplay on Aug. 27.—ML

About the author

Molly Liebergall

Morning Brew

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