So it’s no secret that GTA 6 is one of the most hotly anticipated games currently. But with this comes major problems, as Rockstar recently found out. It may be no surprise that with this games level of notoriety, it is a target for certain hacking groups.
In a story noted on Reuters recently, it was stated by Prosecutors that the teenager hacked the company ‘Rockstar’ and sent a message to all staff on ‘Slack’ (the instant messaging service), threatening to release the source code for GTA 6. The Accused has been named as Arion Kurtaj and is reported to be a member of the Lapsus$ hacker group.
Back in September when the hacking incident occurred, Rockstar advised that they suffered a ‘network intrusion’ which saw unfinished material and assets being leaked across various social media sites. And whilst the company moved quickly to try and remove material, they failed to completely prevent the spread with leaked footage appearing in an advert for Goat Simulator 3.
Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick had the following to say in the wake of the leaks;
“We take leaks very seriously indeed and they disappoint all of us, it’s really frustrating and upsetting to the team. However as a business matter we’re not affected. But as a personal matter and an emotional matter, our teams are affected.”
Rockstar stated that the footage was ‘early development footage’ and that ‘work on the next Grand Theft Auto game will continue as planned.
Related: GTA 6 will be announced by Rockstar soon, and here’s why… – FandomWire
Latest on the GTA 6 hacking scandal
Not only did the named individual hack Rockstar, but prosecutors have alleged that the teenager also hacked the financial company Revolut, accessing over 5000 customers details. Furthermore, he is said to have caused $3 million worth of damage to Uber when he targeted them in September 2022.
At London’s Southwark Crown Court Kurtaj is facing a total of 12 charges. These are said to include 2 counts of fraud, 3 counts of blackmail and 6 charges listed under the U.K.’s Computer Misuse Act.
Read also: GTA 6 Hacker Deemed Unfit to Stand Trial Due to Poor Mental Health – FandomWire
Arion Kurtaj did not work alone in this targeted attack. A 17 year old youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is said to be (alongside Kurtaj), very ‘key players’ in the Lapsus$ hacker group. Prosecutors further allege that the pair attempted to blackmail the United Kingdom’s biggest broadband provider BT Group and mobile phone operator EE. The alleged offences were said to take place between July and November of 2021 with the pair demanding a sum of $4 million.
However it should be noted that Arion Kurtaj has been assessed by psychiatrists and has been deemed mentally unfit to stand trial. A jury will still have to determine whether he committed the alleged crimes but they will not deliver a guilty or not guilty verdict. The case against the co-accused is ongoing.
We’re all desperate to get our hands on the next Grand Theft Auto instalment but these guys are another level! What’s your thoughts on the latest instalment of the GTA 6 hacking scandal? Get in touch, drop us a comment and let us know.
Follow us for more entertainment coverage on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
