Rockstar and the community were surprised last night by a big gameplay leak of GTA 6, whose content was quickly and widely shared online. While Rockstar is trying to contain the damage, the leaker is portraying himself as the hero of all gamers… However, even those with a similar mission see it quite differently.
What do the leaks contain? The leaks of GTA 6 mainly include gameplay. In two shared videos, which can be classified as real material due to Rockstar’s DMCA takedown requests, two scenarios are shown: Jason is playing basketball in his driveway in one clip, while in the other, he is in a car, crashes a few times, and eventually gets into a fight with a thug after they get into a conflict. The police notice him and he flees.
In the leaks, alongside the gameplay and animations, it is also visible how the HUD looks with money and wanted meter, how the police notice him, and how NPCs react to all that has happened.
The responsible one “Cyberleek” uses this action as a statement to Rockstar. His mission: He demands physical versions, no content behind paywalls, and the end of pre-orders for digital content.
Although many people share the same attitude as he does, and many fans indulge in the leaked content, the leaker also receives harsh criticism for it.
Leaker’s action harms opportunities for change
What criticism is directed at it? While there are gamers who view Cyberleek’s action as a justified punishment for Rockstar’s decisions, as can be seen from some comments on X, there are also significantly more critical voices.
Among them is the initiative “Stop Killing Games”, which has spoken up for the users’ rights of players, the preservation of games even after their discontinuation, and against Sony’s complete digitalization on X.
Nevertheless, the initiative issues a statement in response to Cyberleek’s actions that they clearly distance themselves from this approach, contrary to a similar mission, and criticize it. They not only question the leaker’s intentions but also the danger that his actions pose:
The group uses the leaked material to promote a memecoin: they add crypto links and QR codes to the footage and urge viewers to pay for more material.
Do not send these people any money, no matter how much sympathy you feel for their actions. It is illegal, and honestly, we feel for everyone at Rockstar who has to go through this ordeal again – especially just a week before Rockstar’s own official “Extended Look” premiere.
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Using illegal means to make a point is unacceptable to us and does not contribute in any way to protecting our right to continue using what we have paid for. No matter how much you disagree with the decisions of the management of these companies – there are still thousands of developers who have worked hard on this project – and they are the ones who are hit the hardest.
Instead, channel this frustration into something constructive. This kind of action is destructive and helps no one; worse still, it threatens to damage the reputation of our communities and our chances for change.
Stop Killing Games on X (there you will also find the complete statement)