In spite of the barrage of well-publicized and, at times, poorly received Grand Theft Auto 6 leaks and rumors, the highly-anticipated sequel to the second-best-selling game of all time will almost certainly be a critical and commercial success. Although many fans of the popular series have been vocal in their disappointment at the graphical quality of leaked early gameplay footage, it seems unlikely that GTA 6 will be adversely affected by these leaks - seemingly, all they are really achieving is hyping up an already highly-awaited release.
Although fans of the franchise have been clamoring for details of the upcoming release for years, the developer of GTA 6, Rockstar Games, has remained noticeably quiet regarding the latest installment of its immensely popular series, often refusing to reveal anything official. However, the developer did confirm that a collection of early GTA 6 gameplay videos leaked in September 2022 were real, albeit only "early development footage".
The controversial GTA 6 leaks were cited as among the biggest in video game history, with 90 videos posted to the Grand Theft Auto Forum, cumulatively consisting of around an hour of footage mostly showing early development gameplay tests. Although following the leak, many people were excited to see tangible progress on the long-awaited project, many others were quick to voice their disappointment at the rudimentary graphics of the pre-alpha material leaked early in its development.
In spite of this, the hype surrounding the upcoming game has not diminished, with rumors and purported leaks emerging regularly. These GTA 6 leaks have grabbed the attention of fans, and inspired excitement, discussion, and speculation on topics ranging from the release date to its setting.
Related: Why Rockstar Waited So Long To Announce GTA 6
Rockstar Games and its parent organization, Take-Two Interactive, are familiar with leaks and rumors. Notably, the critically and commercially acclaimed predecessor to GTA 6, Grand Theft Auto 5, was subject to numerous rumors and leaks prior to its release in 2013. Many of these were likewise received with backlash by the franchise's fanbase which proclaimed the graphics were last-gen quality, confusing the leaked early development footage with the final product. In spite of this, the leaks were not at all reflective of the game upon release. In reality, GTA 5 was an enormous graphical upgrade compared with its predecessor - likewise, GTA 6 will look nothing like the footage leaked in 2022.
Despite the concern evoked by leaked material, it is safe to say, that with over 170 million units sold (according to Take Two), numerous prestigious awards, and over a decade of active play spanning three console generations GTA 5 has not been adversely affected by its leaks or initial reception - and neither will GTA 6. Furthermore, Rockstar is seemingly investing the majority of its developmental resources into GTA 6, having reassigned the team from Red Dead Online in Summer 2021.
With GTA 6 potentially set for release in 2024, it is yet to be seen how impactful its leaks will be. However, if GTA 5 is anything to go by, the disappointment initially experienced at the pre-alpha developmental state of the leaks will probably soon be forgotten. Like many Rockstar projects, Grand Theft Auto 6 will likely be a critically-lauded game with beautiful visuals, immersive gameplay, and an engrossing story mode. In other words, it will hopefully be an experience well worth the wait - and not one negatively affected by leaks.
Source: Take Two Interactive