Rockstar Games was recently struck by a hacking incident that resulted in footage of the latest entry to the Grand Theft Auto series of open-world games being leaked online.
A string of videos was first leaked to the website GTAForums which showed gameplay from the still-in-development Grand Theft Auto VI. The game isn't expected to release until 2025 and hasn't been officially revealed by Rockstar. The developer's parent company, Take-Two Interactive
In a statement put out by Rockstar, the developer admitted to suffering from a "network intrusion" that allowed a hacker to download "confidential information." While the hacker has claimed to possess copies of the game's source code and assets used in its development, neither Rockstar nor Take-Two have confirmed or denied this.
"We are extremely disappointed to have any details of our next game shared with you all in this way," Rockstar said. "Our work on the next Grand Theft Auto game will continue as planned and we remain as committed as ever to delivering an experience to you, our players, that truly exceeds your expectations."
Is This Going to Hurt Take-Two and Rockstar?
It's hard to say what the long-term ramifications are, given that it hasn't been confirmed whether the game's source code has been leaked. While Rockstar still intends to proceed with development, a release of the game's source code could potentially warrant a delay in the much-anticipated title.
In gaming terms, access to GTA VI's source code could be dangerous to the security and integrity of the game. While online play in GTA VI is still unconfirmed, even a single-player only title will still likely need fixes to patch any vulnerabilities with Rockstar's proprietary launcher, which all its modern releases require for use on PC.
In business terms, the hack seems to have unnerved investors, as shares of Take-Two took a hit in response to the news.
Shares dropped 1.8% in after-market trading on Sunday, when the leak was revealed, but recovered 2.66% throughout Monday. Investors still seemed to be unnerved, however, as shares slid 1.8% on Tuesday. Shares slid a further 3% on Wednesday, though that drop may be related to a separate hack of Take-Two owned studio 2K.
However, aside from a possible delay of GTA VI, it doesn't seem that there's much long-term damage ahead for Rockstar or its parent company. Even if GTA VI is delayed, the game still lacks an official release date, making it likely that a delay wouldn't be noticeable anyway.
A Majority of Fans Still Have Rockstar's Back
Some players of the long-running game franchise lashed out at the unfinished state of the game shortly after footage began to circulate online. However, criticism was quickly met by a strong response by fans.
Many were quick to point out the obvious fact that, as GTA VI is still in development, the game never meant to be a finished product in the first place. Fans and fellow developers have since voiced their support for Rockstar.
Memes and jokes about criticism of an unfinished game aside, the fan response does seem to reflect considerable interest in the game. Based on the fan response, GTA VI will more than likely release to high enthusiasm unaffected by the unfinished state seen in leaked footage.
