Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) has reportedly suffered another major leak just days before Rockstar Games is scheduled to reveal more of the highly anticipated game. Two short gameplay clips and an image appearing to show the game’s wider Leonida map surfaced online on August 18, giving fans an unexpected look at gameplay mechanics, locations and features that Rockstar has not officially detailed yet.
The leaked material has quickly spread across social media and gaming communities, although Rockstar Games and Take-Two Interactive have not publicly confirmed that the footage is authentic. However, Rockstar has reportedly issued DMCA takedown notices against people sharing the videos and map image. The aggressive removal effort has strengthened speculation that the material came from an internal or development build of GTA 6 rather than being fabricated footage.
What the leaked gameplay appears to show
One of the clips reportedly features Jason, one of GTA 6’s two protagonists, at a waterside property that appears to be his safehouse. The footage shows Jason interacting with a basketball, including taking shots at a nearby hoop. A Focus-related stat appears during the activity, suggesting that GTA 6 could incorporate RPG-style progression elements into certain activities.
The clip also appears to show a stamina system and elements of the game’s interface. Some of the details are particularly interesting because they could indicate that everyday activities in GTA 6 will have a greater impact on character abilities than they did in previous entries.
Another leaked clip reportedly shows Jason driving before getting involved in a road-rage incident. Reports describing the footage claim that the player crashes into another vehicle before confronting its driver. The clips also appear to offer glimpses of GTA 6’s combat and interaction systems.
GTA 6 map reportedly reveals five counties
Alongside the gameplay footage, an image claiming to show the broader Leonida map has also circulated online. Leonida is GTA 6’s fictional interpretation of Florida and includes Vice City, the game’s large metropolitan area.
The leaked map reportedly divides the world into five counties and shows a mixture of urban areas, rural regions, waterways and islands. Some locations appear to resemble the Florida Keys, while the eastern portion of the map contains the game’s major city. One of the counties shown in the alleged map had not previously been widely identified by fans.
The map has generated considerable discussion because fans have spent years attempting to reconstruct GTA 6’s world using trailers, screenshots and other officially released material. Community reactions suggest that parts of the leaked map may resemble earlier fan-made predictions, although the leaked image should not be treated as a final representation of the game.
There is also a strong possibility that the leaked material comes from an older development build. Some reports and community discussions have suggested that the footage may date from an earlier stage of development, meaning certain mechanics, locations or visual details could have changed before launch.
Rockstar’s response increases speculation
Rockstar’s reported DMCA actions are one of the biggest reasons the gaming community is taking the leak seriously. The company has previously faced a major GTA 6 security breach, when a large amount of development footage was stolen and published online in 2022.
This time, Rockstar appears to be attempting to remove the newly leaked material quickly. While takedown requests alone do not officially confirm every detail shown in the clips, they have made the latest leak considerably more significant than an ordinary fan-made rumor.
For fans, the timing is particularly notable. Rockstar is already preparing an official Extended Look at GTA 6 for August 27, giving players a legitimate opportunity to see more of the game before its release.
Grand Theft Auto 6 is currently scheduled to launch on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar has not announced a PC release date.
Until Rockstar officially confirms the leaked material, players should treat the reported features and map details as unconfirmed. Nevertheless, the combination of gameplay footage, the alleged map and Rockstar’s rapid takedown efforts has made this one of the biggest GTA 6 developments in the run-up to the game’s official reveal.
About The Author
