Rockstar Games had planned to exclusively premiere a new GTA 6 video, titled 'A Closer Look,' via Netflix. However, just nine days before the scheduled reveal, a massive amount of gameplay footage and map images were leaked online. The hacking group behind the leak has framed the incident as a protest against the gaming industry's monetization practices and issued a list of demands.

On the 18th, a hacking group calling itself 'Cyberleek' posted what is believed to be footage from GTA 6 on their website. The video includes scenes of the protagonist, Jason, driving and getting into a physical altercation with a driver, as well as a scene of him playing basketball, presumably a minigame. The video also features the song 'Impact' by SG Lewis, Robyn, and Channel Tres playing on the radio. An image claiming to be the full GTA 6 map was also released.

While the authenticity of the leak cannot be 100% confirmed, content posted on communities like Reddit and X since the day of the leak has been taken down due to copyright claims. It is presumed that Take-Two Interactive and others initiated these takedowns, which is being interpreted as circumstantial evidence supporting the video's authenticity. The situation is further complicated by the inclusion of AI-generated fake videos and older footage from a 2022 leak being circulated as new content.

Cyberleek, claiming responsibility for the leak, issued a statement framing their actions as a protest against the gaming industry's monetization practices. They demanded: #2) a ban on digital pre-orders; #3) a ban on 'fake DLC' that sells access to single-player content already included in purchased game files; and #4) game preservation through the provision of offline modes for games containing single-player content. They claimed they would not stop these actions until concrete promises are made.

They also warned that they would carry out more leaks in the future, claiming that funds raised would be used to fuel a larger secret project.

Of the three demands, the first—a ban on digital pre-orders—is the most directly relevant to GTA 6. Since there will be no physical version at launch, GTA 6 is set to be sold in a format that includes only a code in the box instead of a disc. Interpretations suggest this is also relevant to single-player DLC, as the Ultimate Edition is currently being sold with various add-on content, including vehicles, weapons, and salons.

Some argue that the leak and Cyberleek's grievances are being received with heightened sensitivity due to this premium sales strategy. In fact, according to data released by Take-Two in August, the $99.99 Ultimate Edition has reportedly outsold the $79.99 Standard Edition.

However, regardless of the validity of their concerns, critics point out that unauthorized leaks via hacking cannot be justified. Furthermore, given past precedents in responding to leaks, the prevailing view is that it is unlikely Rockstar will fundamentally change its business direction.

The leak is expected to deal a significant blow, as it occurred just ahead of the 'A Closer Look' extended video reveal scheduled for 4:00 AM KST on the 28th via Netflix. This is the first time Netflix has premiered a new game video in this manner, with some speculating that they paid up to $100 million for the exclusive reveal.

Meanwhile, the video is scheduled to be released for free on Rockstar's official YouTube channel and website six hours after its exclusive Netflix premiere.