“My uncle works at Nintendo” is a phrase initially popularized back in the 90s when the rumors of Mew being available to catch in Pokémon Red and Blue emerged in school playgrounds and became one of the internet’s earliest myths.
But, in time, these myths end up inspiring real life. Case in point, someone over at Rockstar Games just leaked the official trailer for Grand Theft Auto 6 – just days ahead of its official reveal.
A brief video showcasing the next GTA game has surfaced online. This leak, believed to be accidental, is rumored to have originated from the son of a Rockstar Games employee, or at least that son’s friend, though these claims remain unverified.
The video, first appearing on TikTok under the account i_see_in_4k, quickly gained traction due to its plausible content, showing a cityscape that many believe could be from the upcoming GTA 6. The authenticity of the video, however, still is in question. GTABase has suggested that the footage may have come from the son of a Rockstar employee. Nonetheless, the site also cautions against accepting this claim without further evidence.
BREAKING:
In a totally unexpected turn of events, it appears the ‘leaked’ footage has come from the son of a Rockstar Games employee. pic.twitter.com/T8oyT42hSE
— GTABase.com (@GTABase) December 2, 2023
The timing of this leak is particularly noteworthy as Rockstar has officially announced that the first-ever GTA 6 trailer is coming out on December 5 at 2PM UK time. This announcement, made on December 1, has already generated plenty of interest and excitement among fans, evident from the immediate and enthusiastic response on social media platforms.
Of course, it’s possible this is all just a hoax. Now that the anticipation for Grand Theft Auto 6 is at an all-time high, you can’t just discount the possibility that some individuals might be taking advantage of the hype, using heavily-modded versions of GTA 5 and Red Dead Redemption 2 in trailers and passing them off as the real thing. This further highlights the challenges in distinguishing between authentic leaks and fan-made content.
What’s most interesting are the various theories online regarding the trailer’s origin. If legitimate, there’s a chance that it could come from a friend of Aaron Garbut’s son. Garbut, the co-studio head and art director at Rockstar North, is a key figure in the GTA franchise. He could be a victim of a data breach at his home, where he might have been working remotely. However, Garbut could’ve also been showing off his work to his son or his son’s friend, either of which could have taken a video of the trailer and posted it online, perhaps for clout.
Security and confidentiality are paramount in gaming, especially for a franchise like Grand Theft Auto. Rockstar is known for its strict adherence to non-disclosure agreements and stringent security measures to prevent leaks. Its parent company, Take-Two Interactive, has a reputation for going after leakers hard. The accidental leak of such high-profile content, if true, represents a significant breach of established protocols.
This incident raises questions about the impact of leaks on the development and marketing of major video game titles. While you could argue that leaks can generate additional hype and attention, they can also disrupt carefully planned marketing strategies and reveal content that developers may not be ready to showcase.
Nevertheless, the leak, whether authentic or not, has undoubtedly heightened fan expectation even more, if that’s possible, serving as a reminder of the fervent interest and speculation that surrounds one of the best-selling video game franchises.
