The New GTA 6 Leak Is Already Causing Pandemonium

A TikTok video lasting just seven seconds sent ripples across the internet this weekend, claiming to offer a “first look” at in-game footage from Grand Theft Auto VI, the highly-anticipated open-world blockbuster set to release its official trailer in just a day.

The video ignited a frenzy of speculation about its authenticity, with unverified rumors circulating, suggesting that the leak might involve a Rockstar Games developer’s child.

The video was initially uploaded to TikTok by the account azzarosi, which has since vanished from the platform. In this brief clip, a smartphone camera pans across a PC workstation, apparently running a debug version of GTA VI. The in-game camera briefly surveys highways, city neighborhoods, and skyscrapers, providing only a tantalizing glimpse.

Despite the video’s limited content, enthusiastic fans shared it widely, launching a quest to determine its legitimacy. Removing the original TikTok video sparked speculation about a potential DMCA takedown request from publisher Take-Two, which could lend credence to the leak. However, there is currently no concrete evidence of such a request.

Before going private, azzarosi also reportedly posted a photo that obscured their face but featured Aaron Garbut, the head of development at Rockstar North. This led to conjecture that the leaker might be Garbut’s child or their child’s friend. Subsequently, unverified screenshots of text messages allegedly from the leaker discussing GTA VI’s scale and the number of main cities it features began circulating on various platforms, further fueling the speculation.

Dedicated fans who meticulously analyzed the leaked in-development footage from a significant Rockstar hack last year claimed to have identified landmarks in the TikTok video that align with the hacked material. This has prompted extensive comparisons, involving blurry skyscrapers and roads outlined in MS Paint-like colors. However, it remains plausible that the purported TikTok leak could be an intricate GTA V mod or a remix of pre-existing hack-related footage available online. Such efforts for attention around GTA VI might seem extensive, but this game consistently trends on social media, even without fresh information.

What adds an intriguing twist to this latest leak drama is that fans are on the verge of obtaining an official and much more detailed look at GTA VI, or whatever Rockstar has chosen to name the sequel. The game’s first trailer is scheduled to be released at 9:00 a.m. ET on December 5, promising to provide content creators and fans alike with abundant material for discussion and speculation. If seven seconds of shaky, unclear footage of GTA VI’s skyline can generate such excitement, one can only imagine the frenzy that will ensue when Rockstar finally unveils what is undeniably one of the most eagerly anticipated games ever.