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Cyberleek leak surge
A major leak of “Grand Theft Auto VI” surfaced online this week, with multiple gameplay clips and what appears to be the entire “GTA VI” map posted under the pseudonym Cyberleek.
“Cyberleek warning other publishers that “no one is safe””
NBC News reported that Take-Two filed subpoenas petitioning Microsoft and Discord with the Southern District Court of New York on Thursday, seeking records tied to the online accounts involved in posting and sharing leaks.
The same NBC News report said Cyberleek warned other publishers that “no one is safe” from similar breaches, framing the breach as protest against the industry’s shift toward all-digital releases.
NBC News also reported that “GTA VI” is officially slated for release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on Nov. 19, and that Cyberleek’s footage began circulating online just a week before Netflix is set to preview an extended look at the game.
In Spanish-language coverage, Hobby Consolas said the hacker Cyberleek is asking for money for more content, with prices reaching “hasta 165.000 dólares” and a payment flow tied to “400 XMR” (about “165.450 dólares”).
Court subpoenas and deadlines
Take-Two’s legal push is aimed at identifying the people behind the leak campaign, with NBC News saying the company asked the Southern District Court of New York for records tied to the accounts involved in posting and sharing leaks.
NBC News reported that “Both companies have until Sept. 4 to provide the records,” according to the petition for a subpoena first reported by Kotaku.
Kotaku’s account of the filing said the petition includes “user data as well as data about any associated OneDrive or linked Xbox accounts,” and it described a deadline for Microsoft to produce “all internal Microsoft business records and investigative records” tied to the “cyberleek” persona.
Kotaku also quoted the petition’s language that “The copyrighted material includes but is not limited to audiovisual content, artwork, images, dialogue, or other creative elements,” and said the DMCA subpoena is sought to obtain the identity of an alleged infringer or infringers.
In a separate development, Mashable said Take-Two has filed two subpoenas naming Microsoft and Discord as it hunts the leaker known as Cyberleek, with the legal filings citing “stolen content” and requesting removal of leaked material that violates its copyrights.
Fans, platforms, and fallout
As the leaks spread, NBC News said social media posts that shared the apparent leaks were removed from platforms including X and Reddit, while Take-Two’s subpoenas sought data to trace the online accounts involved.
“Publishers sell licenses and call them purchases”
NBC News reported that Cyberleek framed the breach as a protest, writing “Publishers sell licenses and call them purchases,” and it also quoted Cyberleek’s post that “They kill games and keep the money. Every year anti-consumerism tightens its grip.”
The same report described mixed gamer reactions, including sympathy for developers who “deserve to have their work revealed the way Rockstar intended,” alongside criticism that the company “deserved” the leaks.
Mashable said that at the time of publication, “a total of nine clips and screenshots had surfaced,” including a “Plane video” showing Jason flying over Vice City and a clip where the player shoots the word “LEEK” into a wall.
Hobby Consolas added that Cyberleek’s site offered contact via “Session,” with a message that “las condiciones del trato se negocian en el chat” and a claim of “No hay estafas,” while Forbes reported a new leak called “Hypercar” uploaded to Cyberleek’s website after a 24-hour pause.