When the GTA 6 trailer leaked a day early, the fever-pitch anticipation of fans and the developers suffered a significant blow. All of the years of waiting, the set time and date, and people’s plans for its release were disrupted by a low quality, bitcoin shilling Twitter video. It forced Rockstar Games’ hand to release the trailer early which they announced via a heart-sunken Tweet.
Many speculated just how had the trailer leaked so close to its original scheduled time? The leading theory back in December was that someone working for YouTube leaked it. This was due to an uptick in leaks which were likely stemming from the same place.
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During 2023, there had been a growing number of leaks of unreleased trailers or rundowns of gaming event showcases for upcoming announcements. Whole 1-2 hour YouTube Premiere’s were spoiled hours or days before they were made public. Gamers began to theorise YouTube employees with access to private and unlisted videos via the backend were watching them and leaking them.
YouTube is the source of gaming leaks
According to 404 Media via Insider Gaming, Google has investigated such leaks since 2013 through 2018. There has been one Google employee who was behind a bunch of Nintendo leaks. However, Insider Gaming have some inside info on the GTA VI trailer leak.
They claim to be aware of two similar investigations that took place at Google/YouTube. The most recent investigation supposedly began quickly following the GTA VI trailer leak. Though Insider Gaming does say this could purely be coincidence.
Though it would make sense for YouTube and Google to investigate. It broke the non-music view count in 24 hours and Take-Two Interactive are notorious for looking for legal action.
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We’re unsure about the outcome of the said investigations. Insider Gaming say “The result (of the one done after GTA VI’s trailer leak) probably resulted in disciplinary action for one or more people.”
404 Media claim several Google employees were fired during the 2013-2018 investigations. Not much has changed though as last week’s PlayStation State of Play’s entire list of games was leaked by someone at Google.
At this point, the second GTA 6 trailer could also leak in the same way. Speaking of which, Summer Game Fest creator and host Geoff Keighley confirmed the game would not be at the livestreamed event this week.
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