Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA) fans are buzzing after alleged gameplay footage and a purported image of the game's full map surfaced online on Tuesday, Aug. 18, just days before Rockstar Games is set to unveil an extended look at the highly anticipated title on Netflix.
The leaked material quickly spread across social media, giving fans an unofficial glimpse of the game before its planned official presentation. The footage reportedly features protagonist Jason playing basketball, driving an NPC and taking part in combat scenes.
This leak added to growing excitement around the game, which is one of the most anticipated video game releases in years but was later targeted by copyright takedown requests. Although some original posts were removed, copies of the footage continued to circulate online, making the material difficult to contain.
A group calling itself CyberLeek claimed responsibility for the leak. The group said it targeted Rockstar and its parent company, Take-Two Interactive, because of concerns about the industry's shift toward digital-only gaming.
The leak has also raised questions because CyberLeek's posts promoted a cryptocurrency memecoin as promotion has led some members of the gaming community to question whether the leak was connected to an attempt to draw attention to the cryptocurrency.
Rockstar has not publicly confirmed the authenticity of the leaked footage or map. The company's efforts to remove the material through copyright claims show that it is working to limit its spread across social media and other platforms.
The timing of the leak makes the situation even more notable. Rockstar is scheduled to release an extended look at Grand Theft Auto VI on Netflix on Aug. 27.
