Why The GTA 6 Leaks Have The Internet Completely Split

By now, most gamers have heard about the recent "Grand Theft Auto 6" leak sweeping the internet. The massive leak uploaded to the GTAforums by a mysterious hacker last week encased over 90 videos with over 50 minutes of gameplay footage. The leaked footage gave gamers a glimpse into what "GTA 6" already has to offer, including confirming that one of the game's protagonists is a Latina named Lucia and that this entry would return gamers to the streets of Vice City. Soon after it surfaced, Rockstar Games confirmed that the leak was indeed the real deal.

Fans of the series were stunned to hear that such a big-budget game experienced such a massive leak, and with the leak came excitement. But others quickly pointed out that leaking in-development footage of "GTA 6" could have major consequences on the game's development and perception. So now the internet is split, with some viewing the leak as a welcome treat for fans while others wish the game stayed under wraps.

For years, gamers had no clue if a "GTA 6" was actually in development, aside from a few vague statements from Rockstar. So, when the leak confirmed that the long-awaited "GTA 6" was well on its way, gamers across the internet were in disbelief and couldn't help but plaster their favorite excitement gif anywhere they could. After all, the hype for "GTA 6" has been building for some time, as it's been almost ten years since the last entry in the series.

The small details showcased also got gamers excited about the content of the game. For example, fans got a peek at a new transit system, improved combat, and some upgrades to the day and night cycles. This content dump was a welcome treat for some hardcore fans who now have a hefty amount of content to chew on while they wait for the game to hit shelves.

Because of all this, some argued that this leak was a good thing for both Rockstar Games and fans. For example, one gamer wrote that the leak could potentially put the hype for "GTA 6" at an all-time high while only having a minor impact on the game's development and not damaging the consumer.

In contrast, some fans argued that the leak ruined the surprise of "GTA 6." For example, one longtime Rockstar fan wrote that every Rockstar Games reveal prior was memorable and exciting and noted "GTA 6" won't have the same luxury. As a result, they explained, "I'm really upset now that for the first time these feelings have been robbed from all of us." Another user piggybacking off the previous comment wrote that taking the excitement out of the reveal is a scenario where nobody wins.

Another argument against the leak is that the footage gave gamers an unsatisfactory first impression of the game. For example, even though the game is far from complete and will likely look much different by then, many were disappointed with the graphics showcased in the early build of "GTA 6." This obviously could negatively affect people's opinions on the game before it even received an official reveal.

Additionally, some gamers have pointed out that the leak is a nightmare for artists that have spent years working on this project only for it to be leaked in an unfinished state. And "The Witcher 3" game developer Pawel Sasko wrote that it's a destructive cycle in the games industry to have "years of work ... now being shredded, torn apart, analized, misunderstood, taken out of context, and memed," something fellow game developer Neil Druckmann from Naughty Dog sympathized with.

Some have also argued that the leak will affect not only the developers and artists at Rockstar Games, but also the consumers. Fans are worried that the leak could negatively impact development partly because portions of the game's source code were leaked alongside the footage. When asked how the leak would affect the development, Jason Schreier wrote, "One [reason] is that it'll disrupt work for a while. Another is that it may lead management to limit work-from-home flexibility."

Despite Rockstar Games' statement that the leak would not have a long-term effect on development, some fans believe the leak could push the release date of "GTA 6" back years. These users harkened back to when the "Half-Life 2" source code leaked during its development, delaying it for over a year. Additionally, some believed that the security concerns of having portions of a source code leaked could force the team to rewrite portions of it, thus delaying the game further.