Massive GTA 6 Fake Leak Goes Viral Across Social Media
The gaming community experienced a major deception when a fake gameplay clip of the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 went viral on social media platform X. The video, shared by tipster Zap Actu GTA6, was presented as an "EXTREMELY SERIOUS SITUATION" leak but turned out to be completely AI-generated content.
Despite a Community Note being added to warn users about the video's lack of authenticity, it continued to spread rapidly across the platform. The clip achieved an astonishing 8 million views in just over 24 hours before being removed from the platform, demonstrating the overwhelming hype surrounding Rockstar's upcoming title.
Leaker Comes Clean and Issues Apology
After deleting the viral video, the person behind the account came forward with a surprising explanation. The French leaker, known as ZapActu, claimed the fake videos were part of a social experiment designed to observe people's reactions and demonstrate how easily AI can blur the line between reality and fiction in 2025.
In a statement posted on X, the leaker apologized: "I'm sorry if I gave people false hope; I admit I didn't think things through properly. My initial goal was simply to create some hype and see if people would realise it was AI. I never imagined it would go this far. I apologise to anyone I've disappointed."
The leaker emphasized that there was no financial motive behind the experiment and claimed not to have made any money from the posts. Following the controversy, ZapActu announced plans to delete posts and close accounts related to the incident.
Broader Implications for Gaming and Entertainment
This incident highlights a growing problem in the gaming industry and entertainment sector at large. As Grand Theft Auto 6's November 2026 release date approaches, fans' desperation for any information has made them vulnerable to accepting fake leaks at face value.
The same X account had previously posted similar fake videos that gained significant traction, using the hype to attract followers and Discord members. On the Zap Actu GTA6 Discord server, new users joined in large numbers, creating confusion and backlash among community members who questioned whether the clips were genuine leaks or AI creations.
This situation reflects the broader challenge facing the entertainment industry as AI technology becomes more accessible. Public figures including physicist Brian Cox and actor Keanu Reeves have spoken out against deepfakes that misuse their likenesses, with Reeves reportedly paying a company monthly to remove fake content featuring him.
Governments are beginning to respond to these challenges. Japan recently asked OpenAI to prevent copyright violations after Sora 2 users created videos featuring copyrighted anime and game characters. Despite these concerns, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman described such AI-generated content featuring copyrighted characters as "interactive fan fiction."
With GTA 6 still approximately 12 months away from its planned launch, experts warn that more convincing AI-generated gameplay "leaks" are likely to appear online as fans continue waiting for official updates from Rockstar and the hoped-for third trailer.
