Ex-Rockstar Director: GTA 6 Leaks "No Big Deal"

Obbe Vermeij, a veteran developer who worked as technical director at Rockstar Games until the release of GTA 4, has addressed the recent continuous leaks of Grand Theft Auto 6 gameplay footage. Vermeij stated that for Rockstar, these leaks are "no big deal."

Hacker group Cyberleek has been releasing new footage of GTA 6 almost daily after obtaining game materials. Rockstar Games and its parent company Take-Two have remained largely silent, though court documents indicate they are pursuing the leakers. Bloomberg journalist Jason Schreier has reported that developers are "frustrated and tired" by the ongoing leaks.

Vermeij took to X (formerly Twitter) to call for calm among players. He suggested that Rockstar's long-standing secrecy is part of its marketing strategy, and the current leaks are simply footage that was intended for later reveal. "90% of players won't be looking for these fragmented videos all day, as most people don't have the time and don't want spoilers," he wrote. Vermeij believes the development team is likely only "a little annoyed."

He compared the situation to the "Hot Coffee" scandal surrounding Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, which occurred during his tenure at Rockstar. While Vermeij described that event as a "nightmare" for management at Rockstar's New York studio, it did not impact the operations of the northern studio. In contrast, Vermeij considers the GTA 6 leaks a "very minor incident" with an impact "far less" than the "Hot Coffee" incident.