Grand Theft Auto VI, one of the most highly anticipated games ever, has fallen victim to hacking attempts. A GTA 6 hacker blackmails Rockstar by threatening to leak the source code. Recent reports reveal that a teenage member of the Lapsus$ hacking group, Arion Kurtaj, stands accused of threatening to leak GTA VI’s source code. The hacker allegedly sent a message via Rockstar’s Slack platform, targeting the entire staff. Kurtaj faces multiple charges, including blackmail, fraud, and violations of the U.K.’s Computer Misuse Act.
Kurtaj’s hacking activities extend beyond Rockstar, as he is also accused of targeting other prominent companies like Revolut, Uber, and Nvidia. Moreover, he allegedly attempted to blackmail the British broadband provider BT Group, demanding a hefty $4 million ransom. Due to his mental state, Kurtaj has been deemed unfit to stand trial.
Rockstar Games previously experienced a “network intrusion” in 2022, resulting in the leak of unfinished gameplay and assets across social media platforms. While the company took immediate action to remove the leaked content, it was unable to prevent its spread entirely. The leaked material even made an appearance in Goat Simulator 3 briefly before being swiftly taken down.
Take-Two CEO, Strauss Zelnick, expressed disappointment and frustration over the leaks, emphasizing that the company takes such incidents seriously. However, from a business standpoint, the leaks did not have a significant impact. Yet, the personal and emotional toll on the development teams was undeniable.
Although Kurtaj was not initially named, Uber later disclosed that it was cooperating with the FBI and the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate data breaches within their own systems. The company suspected that Kurtaj was the same hacker responsible for the Rockstar breaches.
The release date for GTA 6 remains unknown, but speculation suggests it may arrive as soon as next year. Meanwhile, a jury will assess the evidence to determine Kurtaj’s involvement in the alleged hacking, although it will not deliver a guilty or not guilty verdict.
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