The 2022 GTA 6 leak explained
In September 2022, more than 90 videos of an early GTA 6 build leaked online, one of the biggest leaks in video game history. Here is what happened and why it mattered.
What leaked
On September 18, 2022, a user posted over 90 clips of work in progress GTA 6 footage on the GTAForums message board. They showed unfinished graphics and debug text, but also confirmed the Vice City setting and two playable protagonists, including a female lead, more than a year before the official reveal.
Rockstar's response
The next day Rockstar confirmed it had suffered a network intrusion and that confidential information, including early development footage, had been downloaded. The studio said work on the game would continue as planned and that the leak would not have a long term effect on development.
Who was behind it
The hacker was Arion Kurtaj, then 18, from Oxford in England, who was also linked to the Lapsus$ hacking group and attacks on other big companies. In 2023 a UK court found that he carried out the hacks; he was judged unfit to stand trial for medical reasons and was ordered to be detained in a secure hospital.
Why it did not ruin GTA 6
The leaked footage was years from finished, and the official trailers looked dramatically better. Rockstar went on to break viewing records with its reveal; see GTA 6 trailer records.
Questions
When did GTA 6 leak?
September 18, 2022.
Who leaked GTA 6?
Arion Kurtaj, a teenage hacker from Oxford, England.
Did the leak delay GTA 6?
Rockstar said it would not have a long term effect. The later delays were announced as needed for polish.
Last checked November 4, 2026. We update this page the moment Rockstar confirms anything new.