A significant data breach has exposed the inner workings of Rockstar Games, with a massive archive totalling nearly 200GB appearing online on 18 September 2026. The leak, which contains the full source code for Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V), has revealed extensive plans for single-player expansions that were ultimately scrapped in favour of the game’s successful online component.
The leaked files suggest that Rockstar, which has its primary development studio Rockstar North in Edinburgh, had been working on a substantial expansion codenamed ‘LibertyV’. This project was intended to bring Liberty City—the New York-inspired setting of Grand Theft Auto IV—into the GTA V engine as a large-scale addition to the existing Los Santos map.
Lost expansions and ‘Agent Trevor’
Digital archaeology of the 192GB to 200GB archive has also uncovered details of a cancelled ‘Agent Trevor’ expansion. This single-player DLC was set to follow the character Trevor Philips through a series of high-octane missions, with leaked technical assets referencing objectives titled ‘True Lies’, ‘Jetpack’, and ‘Underwater Sub-Base Attack’.
Technical analysis of the code even revealed an alternative ‘Ending A’ for the main game, in which Trevor Philips is killed by liquid nitrogen rather than the sequence seen in the final 2013 release. These revelations provide a rare look at the creative pivots made by Rockstar Games as the studio shifted its focus toward GTA Online updates throughout the mid-2010s.
According to reports by IGN, the data dump also contains early technical assets for Grand Theft Auto VI, some of which date back as far as 2015. These low-quality renders and early map tests appear to pre-date the more polished gameplay footage seen in official trailers for the sequel.
Security warnings and legal response
The leak is reportedly linked to the 2022 security breach involving the Lapsus$ hacking group and Arion Kurtaj. Rockstar Games had previously addressed the ongoing security issues on 26 August 2026, describing the continued spread of internal data as “heartbreaking” for the development team and apologising to fans for the long wait for official gameplay footage.
Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, has responded by issuing DMCA takedown notices to remove the leaked files from public repositories and social media platforms.
Cybersecurity experts have issued a warning to the public regarding the archive. Many files currently circulating on file-sharing sites claiming to be the “Rockstar Leak” have been found to contain malware or credential-stealing software. Users are advised to avoid downloading the unverified 200GB archive to protect their personal devices.
The source code leak is particularly sensitive as it includes development tools and assets. While the materials provide a historical record of GTA V’s development, industry analysts have expressed concerns regarding the potential impact on the security of GTA Online’s infrastructure if the source code is used to develop new exploits or cheats.
