Rockstar Games has publicly addressed the GTA VI gameplay leak that has spread online over the past week, describing the release of unauthorised footage as “heartbreaking for our team”.

The developer also apologised for the long wait for official gameplay and further information. However, Rockstar said development was “nearly there” and maintained the game’s planned 19 November 2026 release date.

Rockstar addresses GTA VI gameplay leak

Rockstar said the leaked videos were not how it intended players to first experience the game. It also acknowledged that some players could encounter spoilers before the official launch.

Despite the GTA VI gameplay leak, Rockstar confirmed that its previously announced Extended Look will continue as planned on Thursday, 27 August. The presentation will first appear on Netflix at 3pm ET, followed by Rockstar’s YouTube channel and GTA VI website at 9pm ET.

For South African viewers, that means the Netflix premiere is scheduled for 21:00 SAST on 27 August. The later YouTube and Rockstar website release is scheduled for 03:00 SAST on 28 August.

Rockstar has not publicly detailed exactly what the Extended Look will contain. Its original announcement only confirmed the presentation, platforms and broadcast times.

The latest incident has also prompted legal action from Rockstar parent company Take-Two Interactive.

Take-Two filed requests in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York seeking subpoenas for information held by Microsoft and Discord. The company said it wanted records that could help identify people allegedly responsible for distributing copyrighted GTA VI material.

The court approved the requests, according to reports based on the filings. However, the identity of the person or group responsible for the GTA VI gameplay leak has not yet been established publicly.

GTA VI has faced leaks before

This is not Rockstar’s first major leak involving GTA VI. In September 2022, the company confirmed that an unauthorised third party had accessed its systems and obtained early development footage of the game.

At the time, Rockstar said work on the project would continue as planned despite the breach.

The current GTA VI gameplay leak comes less than three months before launch. Rockstar’s official website continues to list GTA VI for release on 19 November 2026 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.