Take-Two Interactive, parent company of the renowned Rockstar Games, formally initiated a legal process in recent days to remove gameplay videos attributed to the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) from the internet. The legal move comes days before a special about the game, titled “Grand Theft Auto 6: An Extended Look”, scheduled to be released on Netflix on August 27, increasing pressure on those responsible for the leaks.

The company’s response to clandestine materials, released by a group calling itself Cyberleek, represents the first concrete measure against content that exposed details of the game’s development. While neither Rockstar nor Take-Two have issued a detailed official statement, copyright infringement notifications sent to multiple platforms confirm the authenticity of the videos, which show early stages of production.

Take-Two’s legal measures against the Cyberleek group

Take-Two Interactive’s actions include sending copyright infringement notifications, based on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), to publications and websites that hosted the game clips. This legal approach aims to suppress the circulation of leaked content and identify the people behind its distribution.

For the company, the improperly disclosed material contains elements protected by copyright, such as audiovisual excerpts, works of art, images, dialogues and other creative components of the future game. An affidavit was filed by Take-Two’s lawyers confirming that the purpose of the subpoenas is solely to identify the alleged infringers and protect the company’s rights.

Contents of Grand Theft Auto 6 leaked videos

The leaks began on August 18, with the appearance of videos showing the character Jason in domestic activities, such as a basketball game. These initial images suggested the introduction of a focus system in the game, which would be completed by hitting baskets, and other mechanics linked to the characters’ routine.

Other excerpts revealed showed an incident involving a delivery vehicle, followed by a fight. In these videos, signs of greater interactivity with automobiles were observed, such as the need to refuel cars and carry out maintenance on their mechanical components, promising an improved level of realism.

In subsequent days, more material continued to emerge on social media. Among the clips were scenes of intense police chase, combat, swimming in open environments, busy nightclub environments, a conversation on board a boat and a sequence where Jason piloted a plane, demonstrating the diversity of activities available in the game.

In one of the videos, the Cyberleek group made a provocation, writing their name on a wall with machine gun fire. This act was an attempt to prove that they had access to a playable version of the title, although they did not clarify whether this “build” represented the current stage of production of the game.

Data requested from Microsoft and Discord in the investigation

In petitions filed in the Southern District of New York, Take-Two requested that Microsoft and Discord provide records that could help identify people or groups associated with the publication and circulation of GTA 6 leaks.

Specific requests included:

• For Microsoft:internal data and records of any investigation into the Cyberleek persona, as well as information associated with OneDrive and Xbox accounts. The company has until September 4th to deliver this data, which could lead to the identification of the users responsible.
• For Discord:user, account, device and telemetry data related to specific servers and channels mentioned in the process.

It is important to highlight that the subpoenas do not imply any direct involvement of the platforms in the original leak. Microsoft and Discord are considered service providers that hold potentially useful data for Take-Two’s investigation, functioning as intermediaries in the legal process.

Leaker motivations and ethical criticism

Those responsible for the leaks claim that their actions aim to combat commercial practices that they consider harmful to consumers. Among the criticisms of the manifesto are digital pre-sales, the possible inclusion of individual content DLCs and excessive dependence on online servers. The group also threatens studios and publishers that do not meet its demands.

However, this justification has been widely criticized by organizations dedicated to game preservation. The Stop Killing Games movement condemned the invasion, leaks and threats, highlighting that such acts directly harm developers and, ironically, weaken legitimate debates about access and preservation of titles in the games industry.

Next steps and expectations for Grand Theft Auto 6

With the ongoing legal measures and the controversy surrounding the leaks, expectations now turn to the special “Grand Theft Auto 6: An Extended Look” on Netflix, which will later be made available on Rockstar’s YouTube. The event promises to be the first substantial official presentation of the game.

Grand Theft Auto 6 maintains its release date of November 19, 2026, with versions confirmed for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar Games and Take-Two remain focused on protecting the integrity of the project, one of the most anticipated in the electronic games industry.