Rockstar Games has confirmed that multiple GTA 6 developers were terminated across 2023–2025 for leaking confidential information to third parties — including influencers, journalists, and even developers at competing studios.
The revelation comes at a tense moment for the company, which is simultaneously facing accusations of union‑busting from the IWGB. Rockstar denies those claims, insisting the firings were strictly tied to breaches of confidentiality and not related to union activity.
According to Rockstar’s statement, the leaks occurred through an “insecure and public social channel” that included 25 non‑Rockstar members, among them a journalist and developers from rival teams. The company emphasized that employees who posted union‑supportive messages but did not leak information were not terminated.
🔍 Backstory: A Studio Haunted by Leaks Since 2022
The GTA 6 development cycle has been unusually turbulent:
- 2022: A massive hack exposed early gameplay footage, internal tools, and development builds.
- 2023: A U.S.-based employee was fired for leaking plot and mechanic details that later surfaced on Reddit.
- 2025: A Lincoln, UK tester was dismissed for sharing information that was then posted publicly by a third party.
- Late 2025: Another employee in India was terminated for a separate leak incident.
These events have created a culture of heightened security inside Rockstar — one that some employees say has slowed collaboration and increased internal pressure.
🧩 Community Speculation: Were the Leaks Real?
Fans have connected the firings to two major leak clusters:
- A 2023 Reddit post describing story beats and new mechanics.
- The Gameroll leaks, which correctly predicted Jason and Lucia’s last names before the official trailer.
Rockstar has not confirmed whether these specific leaks were the cause, but the timing aligns closely with the firings.
⏳ Could This Trigger Another GTA 6 Delay?
Rockstar recently admitted that GTA 6 may not be content complete, and that it’s “hard to say” whether the game will be delayed again.
The new leak scandal adds several risks:
1. Internal Disruption
Firing 34 employees — including testers and developers — inevitably slows workflows. Even if replacements are hired quickly, onboarding in a highly secretive environment is slow.
2. Increased Security Protocols
After every leak, Rockstar tightens internal controls. Historically, this has meant:
- Reduced cross‑team communication
- More compartmentalization
- Slower iteration cycles
These are productivity killers for a game as large as GTA 6.
3. Legal and PR Distractions
The ongoing union‑related investigation, regardless of outcome, diverts executive attention and resources.
4. Morale Impact
Developers working under fear of surveillance or punishment often report lower productivity and higher turnover.
📉 Delay Probability: A Realistic Assessment
Based on the information available and Rockstar’s own statements:
| Factor | Impact on Delay Risk |
|---|---|
| Employee terminations | Moderate |
| Security tightening | High |
| Union‑related investigation | Low–Moderate |
| Game not content complete | High |
| Public pressure & expectations | Low |
Estimated Delay Likelihood: 60–70%
This doesn’t guarantee a delay — Rockstar has a history of pulling off miracles late in development — but the combination of internal instability and incomplete content makes a slip increasingly plausible.
The firing of GTA 6 developers for leaking information to influencers is more than a disciplinary footnote — it’s another chapter in a development cycle marked by unprecedented leaks, internal tension, and public scrutiny.
With Rockstar openly acknowledging uncertainty about the game’s completion status, and with new disruptions emerging, the possibility of another delay is no longer speculative — it’s a genuine risk.
If Rockstar wants to hit its current release window, the studio will need stability, focus, and a leak‑free environment — something it hasn’t enjoyed for years.
