Grand Theft Auto VI Has Been Compromised
Table of Contents
- By Steven
- Published: Sep 20, 2022
- Last Updated: Nov 23, 2023
Rockstar confirmed a breach into Grand Theft Auto VI. Over 50 minutes of footage was leaked, taking social media platforms like YouTube by storm. The hacker also claimed responsibility for the breach at international ride-hail company Uber last week.
How Did the Attack Take Place?
Videos of in-game play were leaked onto GTA forums under the username ‘teapotuberhacker.’ The hacker claimed they gained access to the system by obtaining the password to a Rockstar official's Slack. They then leaked videos of gameplay and developed parts of the game to online forums and social media platforms.
On top of claiming the Uber data breach as their handiwork, the attacker is threatening to leak more. The hacker stated they "could leak more data soon, GTA 5 and 6 source code and assets, GTA 6 testing build."
How Did Rockstar Alert the Public?
Rockstar confirmed that the footage was genuine and from their databases.
"We recently suffered a network intrusion in which an unauthorized third party illegally accessed and downloaded confidential information from our systems, including early development footage for the next Grand Theft Auto," Rockstar stated on Twitter.
They have assured everyone that the game is still in development. They have contacted Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier who posted on Twitter, "This is one of the biggest data leaks in video game history and a nightmare for Rockstar Games.”
What Information Was Leaked
50 minutes of in-game footage has been leaked to the public. 90 separate videos, the longest only about three minutes long, were posted and shared throughout various platforms, including online chat forums and YouTube.
The hacker released their email address, telling Rockstar they are "looking to negotiate a deal." The videos show that there will be a playable female character, reportedly dubbed Lucia, for the first time in Grand Theft Auto history. The story seems to take place in a fictionalized Miami, which many call the Vice City of GTA lore.
What Will Become of the Leaked Footage?
The parent company of Rockstar Gaming, Take-Two Interactive, has its lawyers working tirelessly on copyright claims on all the leaked videos. The videos are so widespread at this point that it may be a fruitless endeavor. Users of the Grand Theft Auto online forums have been discussing, some saying they were glad for the data leak. Take-Two has asked that all copyrighted videos and footage be removed from GTA forums and chat rooms. The thread in which the hacker began the information release has since been shut down.
What Does the Future Hold for Take-Two and GTA
While Rockstar Gaming and Take-Two Interactive promise that this will change nothing concerning the game's development, Grand Theft Auto VI is still not expected to release anytime before 2024. Take-Two stocks have been dropping since the leak, causing panic and fear within the company. They are down as much as 3.3 percent on Monday. The moral of the story here seems to be careful with your passwords. You never know what you could be getting into.
