Rockstar Games posted a statement to its official Instagram account on August 26, 2026, publicly addressing the wave of unofficial GTA 6 gameplay clips that had been circulating online since mid-August — the first time the studio has commented directly on the leaks.
"It would be an understatement to say that having videos of Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay leak 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," the statement read. Rockstar also apologized for the length of the wait for official information: "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."
The statement is notable for two reasons. First, it's Rockstar's first public acknowledgment that the leaked clips — posted under the alias "Cyberleek" starting August 18 — show genuine GTA 6 footage, something the studio had not previously confirmed. Second, the phrase "nearly there!" is the closest Rockstar has come to commenting on development status since reaffirming the November 19, 2026 release date. Rockstar asked fans to "wait a bit longer to experience the game for themselves" at launch rather than seek out leaked material.
The statement lands one day before Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look premieres on Netflix on August 27 at 3:00 PM ET, ahead of a YouTube release at 9:00 PM ET the same day — see our breakdown of that event. It also follows Take-Two's federal subpoenas against Microsoft and Discord, filed August 20 and granted by a judge August 21, seeking to identify the source of the leaks; see our report on the subpoenas for that side of the story.
Rockstar gave no indication that the leaks have changed its marketing plans; the Netflix premiere is still scheduled as announced, and the November 19, 2026 launch date remains unchanged.
Sources
- https://www.gamespot.com/articles/rockstar-finally-comments-on-all-those-gta-6-leaks-heartbreaking-for-our-team/
- https://www.pcgamer.com/games/grand-theft-auto/rockstar-responds-to-gta-6-leaks-this-is-not-how-we-intended-for-you-see-the-game-after-all-this-time/
- https://kotaku.com/rockstar-gta-6-leaks-grand-theft-auto-cyberleek-official-statement-2000728341
- https://www.engadget.com/2244659/rockstar-calls-gta-6-leaks-heartbreaking-says-game-is-nearly-finished/
- https://www.purexbox.com/news/2026/08/rockstar-games-publishes-lengthy-statement-on-gta-6-leaks
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2026/08/26/rockstar-posts-statement-on-gta-6-leaks-as-lucia-story-spoilers-hit/
Published 2026-08-27