A hacking group named Cyberleek leaked multiple unauthorized gameplay clips of Grand Theft Auto 6 from a playable PC build starting August 22, 2026. The footage included risqué content such as strip clubs and a nudist town with explicit nudity among NPCs, drawing significant attention online [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].
Cyberleek used a decentralized distribution protocol to share the leaks, making the clips difficult to fully remove from the internet despite efforts by Rockstar and publisher Take-Two [2]. The publisher issued numerous DMCA takedown requests and subpoenas to Microsoft, Discord, and social media platform X in attempts to identify and halt the hackers [2, 3, 4, 5].
Rockstar staff reportedly felt anger, frustration, and exhaustion after the repeated leaks, leading the company to ban remote work and increase internal security. An anonymous Rockstar executive sent a message to employees condemning the leaks but reassuring them that the quality of the game would not be compromised [2, 3].
The leaked clips revealed gameplay details including a longer day/night cycle lasting approximately 144 minutes, enhanced NPC density and variety, and features like phone customization and physical game disc references [6, 7, 4]. Cyberleek also promoted their own cryptocurrency by promising to release more footage if certain market capitalization milestones were met [1, 4, 5].
Rockstar called the leaks "heartbreaking" and warned fans that spoilers could impact the intended experience. The company apologized for the lengthy development and delay in sharing official details, emphasizing their commitment to delivering a polished product [8, 9, 5].
Despite the leaks, Rockstar and Netflix premiered an official 26-minute extended gameplay look on Netflix on August 27, 2026, followed by a release on YouTube six hours later [6, 3, 10, 11]. Grand Theft Auto 6 is scheduled to launch for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X on November 19, 2026 [3].
