Rockstar Subpoenas Microsoft and Discord Over GTA 6 Leaks

Rockstar Games’ parent company Take-Two Interactive has sought legal recourse with the filing of subpoenas in a federal court. The requests target Microsoft and Discord, aiming to gather information related to unauthorized gameplay leaks of the highly anticipated “Grand Theft Auto 6,” as the game’s official release looms just months away.

Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the documents specify that the material in question includes a variety of copyrighted elements such as audiovisual content, artwork, dialogue, and other creative components. Take-Two is invoking the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) to locate the purported infringers behind the leak.

This week, multiple gameplay videos associated with “GTA 6” surfaced, allegedly shared by a hacking group that identifies itself as CyberLeek. This group claims to have obtained a version of the game that is playable. Although these videos have been circulated across various platforms, they have also faced swift removal, only to reappear in new locations, demonstrating the challenges of controlling the spread of such content online.

A portion of Take-Two’s subpoena directed at Microsoft points to the perceived copyright violation that occurred on the GitHub developer platform. Meanwhile, the subpoena aimed at Discord asserts that infringing content has been posted on that platform’s servers under multiple accounts.

A representative from Discord acknowledged that the company occasionally receives DMCA-related subpoenas. The spokesperson elaborated, stating, “We review and comply with valid subpoenas when we receive them, as is standard and routine for companies like ours.”

Microsoft’s Xbox division, represented by CTO Scott Van Vliet, has expressed its commitment to assisting Take-Two and Rockstar Games in protecting intellectual property. In a statement posted on social media, Van Vliet said, “We are working closely with Take-Two and Rockstar Games to support efforts to protect creative works and intellectual property.”

As of now, Rockstar Games has not confirmed the authenticity of the leaked “GTA 6” materials nor made any public statements beyond their filing of these subpoenas.

Scheduled for a release on November 19 for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S and X, fans have been enthusiastic about the forthcoming game. Additionally, an extended look at “GTA 6” is set to debut on Netflix on August 27, which will later be accessible on YouTube and other platforms.

During an analysts’ earnings call on August 7, Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick remarked that “GTA 6” had seen an exceptional response in preorders, which were launched just five days prior to the quarter’s booking but did not specify the figures involved.