Rockstar says GTA VI is nearly finished as leaks fuel mounting spoilers.
In a statement shared on social media, Rockstar effectively confirmed what fans had suspected for more than a week: the leaked GTA VI footage is genuine. The studio said it was “heartbreaking” to see the game reach the public this way, stressing that this was never how it wanted players to experience the title after years of anticipation.
The post quickly gained traction, receiving around 380,000 likes within its first hour. It marked the first public confirmation from Rockstar that the leaked footage was legitimate, putting an end to weeks of speculation.
The studio also apologised for the lengthy wait to bring GTA VI to players, separate from the recent leaks. Rockstar acknowledged the time taken to complete development and reveal actual gameplay, while saying the game is now nearly finished and promising to deliver a title worthy of the wait.
Why speak up now?
Rockstar’s decision to address the leaks appears to have come at a critical moment, with several developments converging:
- Cyberleek had indicated that major story spoilers, beyond gameplay and map details, would begin emerging this week. A short clip featuring series character Lucia had already surfaced before Rockstar issued its statement, with more leaks reportedly expected.
- Rockstar did not identify the person behind the leaks or explain how the footage was obtained. Reports in the preceding days suggested the studio’s investigators had yet to determine who was responsible or how the apparent playable build was accessed.
- After more than a week of leaks with no public response, the situation had become a story in its own right. Rockstar’s statement also came just a day before the official GTA VI gameplay premiere on Netflix, potentially diminishing the impact of the planned reveal for fans who had already seen leaked footage.
It’s still months from launch
GTA VI is not arriving next week. With the game still roughly three months away, there is plenty of time for Cyberleek to release more material, and it remains unclear how much additional content could emerge before the scheduled November launch.
The frequency of the leaks has also increased, with as many as three separate pieces of material reportedly surfacing in a single day.
Independent coverage of the saga, including reports cited by the BBC, indicated that the leaked material appeared to contain both gameplay and cutscene footage. Some of Cyberleek’s posts presented the leaks as a protest against Rockstar’s business decisions, including the reported plan to release GTA VI as a digital-only title. However, those claims were met with scepticism, as the same posts were also being used to promote a cryptocurrency token linked to the leaker.
Coverage of the rapidly developing story has also produced some inaccuracies. At least one outlet later retracted a claim about a supposed “dead man’s switch” threat associated with Cyberleek, while another report alleging a specific runtime for Rockstar’s Netflix reveal was found to have no credible source. The developments highlight how quickly unverified information can spread during a major leak.
What happens next
Even with Thursday’s official gameplay reveal on Netflix, there is no guarantee the event will slow the leaks. Cyberleek could continue releasing material, leaving the possibility of major story spoilers emerging before the game’s launch. For a franchise as high-profile as GTA, the prospect of an outside party possessing an early build and releasing content on its own schedule is highly unusual.
GTA VI’s official extended look is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on Thursday at 3pm ET, while the game remains set for release on November 19. Cyberleek has already released a 4.5-minute clip featuring Lucia that moves into story-spoiler territory, suggesting that the leak cycle may be far from over.
Rockstar’s full statement:
“Dear all, We know that many of you have been waiting to hear from us regarding the events of the past week. It would be an understatement to say that having videos of Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay leak in this way has been heartbreaking for our team, and this is obviously not how we intended for you to see the game after all this time. We are very sorry that everything has taken as long as it has — from getting the game finished (nearly there!) to sharing more details and official gameplay, and providing the community with everything you want to know.
We are very excited for everyone to see the extended look tomorrow. It has taken longer than we wanted to get it ready, but as with everything we do, we know we need to exceed your expectations, and we are determined to deliver at the level you expect and deserve. While it is unfortunate that the intended game experience may now be impacted by some spoilers, we hope that everyone will wait a bit longer to experience the game for themselves on November 19.
We want to thank everyone in the community who has reached out with messages of support this past week — your words have meant more to this team than you can imagine. Ultimately, we are making this game for you, and without you, we would not have the privilege of making games.”
