Rockstar statement accidentally backs major GTA 6 gameplay leaks

After years and years of wild speculation, one set of Grand Theft Auto VI leaks just crossed an uncomfortable line between rumour and reality. Not because Rockstar planned a reveal, but because the studio may have inadvertently validated key details while defending itself in a legal dispute.

In a recent statement addressing allegations of union busting, Rockstar Games reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on leaks and cited multiple employee dismissals tied to alleged sharing of confidential information. The timing of those dismissals has prompted fans to connect the dots and those dots line up closely with a long-dismissed GTA 6 leak from mid-2025.

A leak Rockstar did not mean to back up

According to Rockstar’s statement, one employee was terminated in April 2025 following the alleged disclosure of sensitive game details to a third party, which were then shared publicly on social media. That timeline happens to overlap almost perfectly with a June 2025 post by X user “GameRoll”, a leak that outlined gameplay and story details for Grand Theft Auto VI.

At the time, the claims sounded ambitious even by Rockstar standards. Now, with the studio confirming disciplinary action linked to leaks around the same period, fans believe those details may have been closer to the truth than anyone expected.

RDR-style mechanics and an ambitious open world (spoilers ahead)

The leaks suggest GTA 6 borrows heavily from Red Dead Redemption, including contextual character interactions like greeting and antagonising NPCs, plus a Dead Eye-style ability for protagonist Jason Duval. The wanted system is also said to return to a six-star format, paired with a limited weapon inventory that stores excess firearms in your vehicle rather than on your character.

Narratively, the game is rumoured to be structured across five chapters, echoing Red Dead Redemption 2’s pacing. The scale of the world is where things get particularly bold. The leak claims more than 700 shops and interiors could be accessible, pushing Rockstar’s long-standing ambition for immersive open worlds even further.

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Earlier story leaks, dating back to late 2023, also appear to align with Rockstar’s internal timeline. Those reports describe Lucia abandoning her baby before a failed bank robbery, leading to prison time, probation, and a reunion with Jason that sparks both romance and another major heist. Rockstar reportedly dismissed a US-based employee roughly a month after those story details surfaced.

None of this is officially confirmed, and Rockstar has not acknowledged any gameplay specifics directly. Still, when a company famous for airtight secrecy starts pointing to leak-related firings, it lends unexpected weight to claims that were once easy to dismiss.

ALSO READ: Why Rockstar’s silence on GTA VI release is actually a good sign!

GTA 6 remains firmly under wraps, but thanks to an unrelated legal defense, fans may now have a clearer picture of what Rockstar is building, whether the studio likes it or not.