GTA 6 leaker threatens to release full playable version of game ahead of official launch
The hacker behind a high-profile string of leaks involving the upcoming release of the Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6 videogame has threatened to release a complete, playable build.
The website of “CyberLeek” published the threat shortly after releasing around 25 minutes of fresh footage of the blockbuster game due to be released in November by Rockstar Games.
Eurogamer, which has seen the footage, says it appears to be legitimate, and confirmed that it carries the emblem of CyberLeek.
According to CyberLeek, the full playable build of GTA 6 will be released when its own cryptocurrency coin reaches a market cap of US $30 million. In an attempt to give its claims more credence, CyberLeek says that any doubters can request specific scenes to confirm it has access to the entire game.
CyberLeek says that if the GTA 6 game is released on physical disk, and a public apology is made, it will step back from its threats.
Campaign groups like Stop Killing Games which fights games to remain playable after publishers end support, have reportedly distanced themselves from CyberLeek’s actions, and in August posted on Reddit that gamers should not encourage CyberLeek:
“Do not send these people your money, no matter how much sympathy you may feel for their actions. This is illegal, and frankly, we feel for everyone at Rockstar having to go through this ordeal again, especially just over a week before Rockstar’s own official “Extended Look” premieres.”
Take-Two, Rockstar’s parent company, appears to be hell bent on identifying whoever is behind the leaks, and has attempted to subpoena Microsoft and Discord in order to gather information about their possible identity.
Anyone who works in the field of cybersecurity is too familiar with the refrain of “pay up or we release it.” What is unusual in this case is that the hacker in not demanding a direct ransom payment, but is instead asking their audience to pump up the value of a crypto token. The hacker’s hope is that the pent-up desire of enough Grand Theft Auto fans will boost how much the crypto coins are worth.
But, of course, there is no guarantee that the hackers will release a full, playable version of the game – even if their cryptocurrency coin does reach US $30 million.
As ever, videogame fans should be very wary of believing anybody who offers a download of a supposedly leaked game. Especially when a game is as hyped-up as GTA 6, there is a real risk that unsuspecting fans will be duped into making bad decisions that could put their computer security at risk.
Besides which, the real, genuine GTA 6 is due to be released on video game platforms on 19 November. It is not worth infecting your computer, or losing money on a dodgy crypto coin, just to see it a few weeks early.
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