Video game producer Rockstar Games said Monday that early development footage from the next version of its popular title Grand Theft Auto was stolen in the hack of its network. Someone claiming to be the hacker, posting on Telegram, dumped 90 video clips from the theft online on Sunday and claimed also to have source code, which they were seeking to sell for a minimum of $10,000. The AP downloaded and viewed the development footage to confirm its authenticity.
The Guardian, which notes the breach has "disrupted years' worth of marketing planning," reports that the leaked footage includes the layouts of various levels, one robbery mission, and a first for the Grand Theft Auto series: a female protagonist. In a statement on Twitter, the company said it didn't anticipate any disruption in live game services or any impact on ongoing projects. But analysts tell the Wall Street Journal that Rockstar might have to make "extensive technical overhauls" if the source code was included in the leak, which in turn could delay when the game comes out.
"We are extremely disappointed to have any details of our next game shared with you all in this way," the company said in its statement. A spokesperson for its New York-based parent company, Take-Two Interactive Software Inc., declined to answer questions from the AP about when it learned of the breach, whether source code was indeed stolen, and whether the hacker had tried to extort the company. The hacker also claimed to have been involved in the recent hack of Uber but provided no evidence. (More Grand Theft Auto stories.)
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