Take-Two Interactive has subpoenaed Microsoft and Discord to identify those behind a series of Grand Theft Auto VI pre-release leaks, as Rockstar prepares to air an extended look at the game on August 27th ahead of its November 19th launch.
A series of pre-release video leaks attributed to a person or group called "CyberLeek" has put Grand Theft Auto VI at the center of a legal and publicity battle just days before developer Rockstar Games is set to air an extended look at the title on August 27th.
Take-Two Interactive, Rockstar's parent company, has subpoenaed both Microsoft and Discord over content that "infringes copyrights" held for the game, according to filings first reported by Kotaku. The subpoenas, filed on Thursday, give both companies until September 4th to produce information identifying alleged infringers.
The leaked clips, watermarked with the "CyberLeek" tag, show what appears to be protagonist Jason Duval — one of two playable characters in the game — driving, flying an airplane, using a taser, and attacking a person with a wrench. In one clip, a player spells "LEEK" by shooting holes in a wall, suggesting, according to The Verge, that an actual playable build of the game has left Rockstar's control.
The subpoenas specifically cover "audiovisual content, artwork, images, dialogue, or other creative elements" and are aimed at unmasking the individuals responsible.
The leaks arrive at a particularly sensitive moment. Rockstar announced on August 6th that an "extended look" at GTA VI will stream on YouTube on August 27th at 9PM ET, with Netflix subscribers receiving exclusive early access at 3PM ET. Brandon Riegg, Netflix's VP of Nonfiction Series, said in a statement that "the anticipation and fandom around Grand Theft Auto VI is unprecedented, and we're honored that Rockstar Games has partnered with us to debut the next part of the Grand Theft Auto story with Netflix members first."
GTA VI is scheduled to launch November 19th, 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S — a date that itself reflects two separate delays from an originally planned fall 2025 release window, with an intermediate target of May 26th, 2026 also missed.
The game will launch digitally only at launch, with physical cases containing download codes rather than discs. Preorders are available for a $79.99 standard edition and a $99.99 Ultimate Edition on both platforms. Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick described the early preorder response during a recent earnings call as "unprecedented and astonishing," adding that the company is "very grateful."
The title follows dual protagonists Jason and Lucia navigating a criminal conspiracy in Vice City. Rockstar has described a recent trailer as "equal parts gameplay and cutscenes."
Labor tensions have also shadowed the project. Workers at Rockstar's UK studios — spanning Edinburgh, Dundee, Lincoln, Leeds, and London — submitted a request for voluntary recognition of the IWGB Game Workers Union, according to a press release from the union. The move follows Rockstar's dismissal of more than 30 employees last year in a move the union characterized as union busting. IWGB members say they have been organizing since 2019 and now represent a significant share of the workforce across those sites.
This is not the first time GTA VI has been the subject of a major leak. A large-scale breach in September 2022 exposed 90 videos of an early build, ultimately resulting in a life sentence in a secure hospital for the hacker responsible.
With the August 27th showcase now days away and legal proceedings against the latest leakers just beginning, the question for Take-Two is whether the subpoenas — and whatever disclosures Microsoft and Discord produce — will arrive in time to contain further damage before the game's November launch.
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