Take-Two Interactive has moved to unmask the people behind a wave of recent GTA 6 leaks, filing requests for US federal court subpoenas seeking user data from Microsoft and Discord linked to unauthorised Grand Theft Auto 6 footage and other material.
GTA 6 has been leaking in messy bursts for several days, with clips and screenshots appearing across social platforms and private servers almost as quickly as Take-Two and Rockstar Games issue copyright takedowns.
One online persona in particular, using the name 'CyberLeek,' has emerged as the central character in the drama, publishing alleged in-development footage while promoting an anti-industry manifesto and a cryptocurrency project.
GTA 6 Subpoenas Target Microsoft and Discord
According to court filings, Take-Two has sought subpoenas under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, a legal mechanism that allows copyright holders to seek identifying information about alleged infringers from service providers.
The company told the court it had 'submitted a sworn declaration confirming that the purpose for which the DMCA subpoena is sought is to obtain the identity of an alleged infringer or infringers.'
The requests, directed at Microsoft and Discord, seek considerably more information than usernames and email addresses. Both companies were given a 4 September deadline to produce the requested records.
In Microsoft's case, Take-Two wants 'business records and investigative records associated with Microsoft's internal investigation of the 'cyberleek' persona sufficient to identify the user(s).'
Discord has been asked for broader material. Take-Two is seeking 'all identifying information associated with all user accounts that are/were members communicating with the Discord server(s)' identified in the filing. The request covers activity dating from 1 June 2026 and includes specific accounts and servers.
However, inclusion in the requested records does not mean every member of those communities is suspected of leaking GTA 6 material. The subpoenas are designed to identify alleged infringers and gather evidence rather than establish wrongdoing.
Neither Microsoft nor Discord immediately responded to media requests for comment. However, Microsoft's Xbox chief technology officer Scott Van Vliet said the company was working with Take-Two and Rockstar to protect their intellectual property.
Take-Two Escalates Fight Against GTA 6 Leaks
After days of what some fans appeared to treat as a spectator sport, with each new GTA 6 leak being dissected frame by frame on Reddit, X and Discord, the federal filings mark a significant escalation from copyright takedowns to an effort to identify those allegedly responsible.
From Take-Two's perspective, this is not simply fan enthusiasm getting out of hand. The company has described the material at issue as including 'audiovisual content, artwork, images, dialogue, or other creative elements,' placing the dispute squarely within its copyright enforcement efforts.
The stakes are particularly high because GTA 6 is one of Take-Two's biggest upcoming releases. Rockstar currently plans to release an extended look at the game on 27 August, followed by the full launch on 19 November 2026.
The controversy has also coincided with a significant movement in Take-Two's share price. PC Gamer estimated that the company's market capitalisation fell by roughly $2.8 billion (£2.1 billion) during the week in which the leaks emerged.
However, the movement cannot be attributed solely to the leaks, and market capitalisation is not equivalent to a direct financial loss. Take-Two nevertheless remains valued at tens of billions of dollars, meaning the decline represents a relatively modest percentage of its overall market value.
A Brash Leaker and a Shrinking Window of Anonymity
The online persona at the centre of the controversy, CyberLeek, has continued releasing apparent GTA 6 material even as Take-Two pursues identifying information through the courts.
One of the latest alleged GTA 6 clips showed around two minutes of high-speed driving through Vice City, while earlier footage showed protagonist Jason Duval performing various activities, including flying an aircraft.
The continued releases suggest CyberLeek does not currently intend to stop. The group's material has also promoted its cryptocurrency, with one recent message linking a higher market capitalisation for the token to further leaks.
That activity could strengthen Take-Two's argument that it is dealing with continuing alleged copyright infringement rather than an isolated disclosure.
PC Gamer editor Tyler Wilde has previously examined public information surrounding CyberLeek, identifying clues about the person or group's possible background and online history. Those findings remain speculative and have not established CyberLeek's identity.
What matters now is what Microsoft and Discord are ultimately required to provide. The requests seek potentially identifying information, including account records, IP addresses and, in some instances, device and telemetry information.
Whether the investigation eventually results in criminal charges, a civil lawsuit, a settlement or no further action remains unclear. The current proceedings seek information to identify alleged infringers; they are not themselves findings of liability or criminal wrongdoing.
The subpoenas nevertheless show that Take-Two has moved beyond simply removing leaked material and is actively seeking to identify whoever is responsible for distributing it.
For fans who joined leak-focused Discord communities simply to follow the story, the breadth of the request may be unsettling. But appearing in records produced under a subpoena would not, by itself, establish that a user participated in obtaining or leaking copyrighted material.
What is clear is that Take-Two is treating the GTA 6 leaks as a serious intellectual property matter ahead of one of the industry's most closely watched releases.
