Rockstar Takes Legal Action Over ‘GTA 6’ Leaks as Subpoenas Are Filed

‘Grand Theft Auto 6’ has emerged as one of the most eagerly awaited video game releases in recent years. Rockstar Games has been meticulously managing the rollout of information leading up to the launch, but this week, a significant setback occurred when a surge of gameplay footage began circulating online, well ahead of the studio’s planned reveal.

The leaks surfaced at a particularly inconvenient time, just days before Rockstar’s scheduled reveal event. With their carefully orchestrated marketing strategy now thrown into disarray, Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar’s parent company, swiftly transitioned from damage control to legal action.

Rockstar Games has filed subpoenas with a district court, seeking information from Microsoft and Discord regarding the gameplay leaks for ‘Grand Theft Auto 6.’ Representatives from Rockstar, Microsoft, and Discord did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday. Take-Two submitted the petitions to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York on Thursday, aiming to obtain data from both companies under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act to identify those responsible for the leaks.

The requests made by Take-Two are quite extensive. The subpoenas demand account IDs, registration emails, IP addresses, phone numbers, and linked accounts, including Xbox and Google profiles, as well as device identifiers and any GTA-related content stored on associated OneDrive accounts. For Discord, the request specifically seeks identifying information for all users who were members of certain servers between June 1, 2026, and the present.

The leaks are reportedly attributed to a hacker or group operating under the alias “CyberLeek,” who claims to have a playable version of the game. Multiple videos showcasing previously unseen gameplay elements, including combat and basketball mechanics, have rapidly spread online this week, although Rockstar has yet to publicly verify their authenticity.

Take-Two’s legal documents describe the leaked material as encompassing “audiovisual content, artwork, images, dialogue, or other creative elements,” suggesting that the leaked footage is considered genuine rather than fabricated within the company. Take-Two has given Microsoft until September 4 to provide the requested user data.

This situation adds significant pressure to Rockstar’s promotional timeline. Netflix is set to release an exclusive “extended look” at the game on August 27, which will later be available on YouTube and other platforms. This means the studio must navigate its official unveiling against a backdrop of unauthorized clips that have already been circulating for days.

‘Grand Theft Auto 6’ is still on track for its November 19 release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S and X. During an earnings call with analysts on August 7, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick described the game’s preorder launch as having started exceptionally well, though he refrained from disclosing specific sales figures.

Whether these subpoenas will successfully identify the source of the leaks remains to be seen. However, the aggressive legal response underscores how seriously Take-Two is taking any threats to its control over the game’s rollout in these final months leading up to launch. With the Netflix reveal just days away, all eyes are on whether Rockstar can reclaim control of its narrative before the leaks spread further.

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