Take-Two subpoenas Microsoft and Discord to trace GTA VI leaker

Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, has initiated legal proceedings in the Southern District of New York to identify the source of leaked Grand Theft Auto VI footage. The company filed two petitions for subpoenas against Microsoft and Discord, seeking to uncover the identity of the leaker or group operating under the persona "Cyberleek." This legal move comes ahead of the game’s scheduled release in November and a planned exclusive streaming deal with Netflix.

The subpoena directed at Microsoft targets a GitHub repository that allegedly hosted copyrighted material, including audiovisual content, artwork, images, and dialogue. Take-Two is specifically requesting business records and investigative records associated with Microsoft’s internal investigation of the "cyberleek" persona. The company aims to determine how the repository was accessed and what specific files were shared.

In parallel, the subpoena to Discord targets specific users and servers, including accounts named CYBERLEEK, CINEMATICROCKSTAR, and Surfer24k. The legal documents also reference a Discord server run by GTA V content creator DarkViperAU and another server called !Odyssey. Take-Two is seeking all identifying information related to these accounts, including full names, phone numbers, linked accounts, and any content shared related to Grand Theft Auto, Rockstar, or Cyberleek.

Footage of the game began spreading online on 18 August, prompting Take-Two to issue takedown requests to limit the distribution of the material. Despite these efforts, the leaks continued to circulate, with new videos suggesting that Cyberleek possessed a working build of the game. The timing of the leak is significant, as it occurred just days before Take-Two and Rockstar were scheduled to offer an "extended look" at the game via an exclusive streaming deal with Netflix on 27 August.

This is not the first time Grand Theft Auto VI has been compromised by a leak. In 2022, footage of the game was shared by an 18-year-old member of the hacking group Lapsus$ via an Amazon Fire TV Stick. Following a mental health assessment that determined the hacker was unable to stand trial, a judge sentenced him to an indefinite hospital order. The current legal action marks a more direct institutional approach to identifying the source of the breach.

According to reporting from Kotaku, the details of the subpoenas indicate a focused effort to trace the digital footprint of the leak. The company’s strategy relies on compelling third-party platforms to provide the data necessary to identify the individuals or entities responsible for releasing the copyrighted material.