Microsoft has publicly confirmed that it is assisting Take-Two Interactive and Rockstar Games as the companies attempt to trace the source of the latest GTA 6 leaks.
Xbox Chief Technology Officer Scott Van Vliet addressed the situation on August 21 after reports emerged that Take-Two had sought records from Microsoft, Discord and Google as part of its investigation.
Van Vliet kept his statement brief, saying Microsoft is working closely with Take-Two and Rockstar to support their efforts to protect creative material and intellectual property.
The statement adds another major company to an investigation that has rapidly moved beyond ordinary copyright takedowns. Take-Two is now using legal tools to obtain information that could help identify whoever is behind the continuing release of alleged GTA 6 gameplay footage.
Xbox CTO Confirms Microsoft Is Working With Rockstar
The latest update came directly from Xbox’s senior technology leadership.
Van Vliet confirmed that Microsoft is cooperating with Rockstar Games and Take-Two as they investigate the unauthorized distribution of Grand Theft Auto VI material.
He did not provide technical details about Microsoft’s investigation or identify any individual suspected of involvement.
That restraint is important.
Take-Two is currently trying to establish who is responsible. The existence of an investigation does not prove that any particular person or account committed copyright infringement or illegally obtained Rockstar’s material.
However, Microsoft’s involvement indicates that the publisher believes information held by major online platforms could help reconstruct how the footage was distributed.
CyberLeek Has Continued Sharing GTA 6 Footage
The investigation centers partly on an online identity known as CyberLeek, which has been associated with the recent circulation of footage from what Pure Xbox describes as an older GTA 6 build.
The material has appeared online while Rockstar prepares its official Extended Look at Grand Theft Auto VI.
That timing has created a difficult situation for the developer.
Rockstar has spent years carefully controlling what the public sees of GTA 6. Unauthorized footage removes that control and potentially exposes unfinished material without the context that would normally accompany an official presentation.
There is also the possibility of story spoilers as more material circulates.
Pure Xbox noted that Take-Two appears particularly determined to identify the source before additional information is released.
Take-Two Is Seeking Microsoft Records Through a DMCA Subpoena
Microsoft’s role became clearer after details from Take-Two’s legal requests emerged.
The publisher has issued multiple subpoenas seeking information from technology companies that could assist with its investigation. The requests rely on the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, or DMCA.
According to material cited by Pure Xbox, Take-Two describes the disputed content as including audiovisual material, artwork, images, dialogue and other creative elements.
The publisher says its purpose is to identify the alleged infringer or infringers and use that information to protect its rights.
Take-Two is specifically seeking Microsoft business and investigative records connected with the CyberLeek persona that could help identify the user, users or entities behind it.
Microsoft May Already Have Its Own CyberLeek Investigation
One detail in the legal documents is particularly interesting.
The wording of Take-Two’s request refers to Microsoft’s “internal investigation” of the CyberLeek identity.
That suggests Microsoft may already have collected information relevant to the case before Take-Two requested access to those records.
Van Vliet’s statement now publicly confirms Microsoft’s cooperation, although it does not explain what the company’s own investigation has discovered.
There are several reasons Microsoft could possess useful information. Its services cover a wide range of online infrastructure, including Xbox and GitHub.
Still, the existence of potentially relevant records should not be interpreted as evidence that Microsoft itself was responsible for the GTA 6 security breach.
The company is assisting the rights holder with the investigation.
Discord and Google Are Also Reportedly Involved
Microsoft is not the only technology company from which Take-Two is seeking information.
Pure Xbox cites reports indicating that subpoenas have also targeted Discord and Google.
This suggests Take-Two is attempting to follow the digital trail across multiple platforms rather than relying on one source of information.
Online leaks rarely remain confined to a single service. Files can move between private communities, cloud services, social networks and public hosting platforms extremely quickly.
That makes identifying the original source considerably harder than removing individual copies.
Take-Two can issue copyright notices against videos after they appear. Stopping the person with access to the original material requires finding that person first.
That appears to be the priority now.
Why GTA 6 Leaks Matter More Than Ordinary Spoilers
Fans naturally focus on what leaked clips reveal about Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay. For Rockstar, the consequences extend further.
Development footage may contain unfinished graphics, temporary animations or mechanics that have changed since the build was created.
Once that footage appears publicly, viewers can easily mistake it for a representation of the final game.
There is also a commercial issue. Rockstar has an extensive marketing campaign designed around specific reveals. Each trailer and presentation is timed to introduce information when the studio believes it is ready.
Leaks disrupt that process.
More seriously, continued access to a development build could potentially expose story details or other material Rockstar intends players to discover themselves.
That explains why the investigation is becoming increasingly aggressive.
Rockstar Has an Official GTA 6 Reveal Coming Next Week
The timing is particularly awkward because Rockstar is only days away from showing more of the game officially.
Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look will premiere through Netflix on August 27. The presentation begins at 3 p.m. ET, with Rockstar making it available through its YouTube channel and official GTA 6 website six hours later at 9 p.m. ET.
The event should give Rockstar an opportunity to move the conversation away from development leaks and back toward approved material.
Exactly what the Extended Look contains remains to be seen.
However, a substantial official presentation could quickly make older leaked clips much less relevant, particularly if Rockstar demonstrates the current state of gameplay directly.
Microsoft’s Statement Does Not Mean the Leaker Has Been Identified
The growing list of companies involved may create the impression that investigators are close to finding the source.
That has not been confirmed.
Microsoft says it is cooperating. Take-Two has requested records. Reports indicate Discord and Google have also received legal demands.
None of those developments establishes that CyberLeek has been identified.
Likewise, information obtained through subpoenas would need to be evaluated before Take-Two could determine what further action, if any, is appropriate.
Fans may be surprised by how complex that process can become. Online identities can involve multiple accounts and services, while determining who actually controlled an account at a particular time may require considerably more evidence than obtaining a username.
The GTA 6 Leak Hunt Is Now Much Bigger Than Rockstar
What began as another batch of unauthorized GTA 6 clips has now developed into a multi-company investigation.
Take-Two is pursuing records through legal channels. Microsoft has publicly confirmed its cooperation. Other major platforms are reportedly being asked to provide information as well.
That does not guarantee the source will be identified.
It does demonstrate how seriously the companies involved are treating the situation.
Meanwhile, Rockstar’s official schedule continues. GTA 6 remains set for November 19, 2026, on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, while the August 27 Extended Look will provide the next major sanctioned glimpse of Leonida.
For Rockstar, the ideal outcome is straightforward. The official presentation becomes the story, the unauthorized footage becomes old news, and investigators determine how the material escaped in the first place.
Microsoft’s brief statement shows that Rockstar will not be conducting that search alone.