Afederal judge in Manhattan has cleared the way for Take-Two Interactive to try to unmask the person or group behind a wave of leaked Grand Theft Auto VI footage, granting the company's request to subpoena both Microsoft and Discord for user records connected to the leaks.
A federal judge in Manhattan has cleared the way for Take-Two Interactive to try to unmask the person or group behind a wave of leaked Grand Theft Auto VI footage, granting the company's request to subpoena both Microsoft and Discord for user records connected to the leaks.
The order, issued by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, compels the two companies to hand over account details, IP addresses, phone numbers and device identifiers tied to the persona known as "CyberLeek," who has published a series of gameplay clips from the unreleased title since mid-August.
Take-Two filed its petitions on August 20 under Section 512(h) of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Court records show both requests were granted the following day, a fast turnaround for a copyright dispute that has quickly become one of the most closely watched legal fights in gaming this year.
Court filings in the case, docketed as 1:26-mc-00421 against Microsoft and 1:26-mc-00422 against Discord, describe the leaked material as encompassing audiovisual content, artwork, images and dialogue from Grand Theft Auto VI. Take-Two's counsel of record, attorney Dale Cendali, submitted a sworn declaration stating the subpoenas are intended solely to identify the alleged infringer and to protect the company's copyright interests.
The Microsoft subpoena seeks the company's internal investigative records into the CyberLeek persona, along with account, device and OneDrive data tied to a GitHub repository where some of the leaked files were reportedly posted. Both companies face a September 4 deadline to produce the material, according to the filings.
Neither Microsoft nor Discord has said publicly whether they have identified any accounts responsive to the order.
What the Subpoenas Demand
The scope of the Discord subpoena is broader than a single account. It seeks identifying information — registration emails, IP addresses, phone numbers and linked accounts — for every member of a list of named Discord servers dating back to June 1, 2026, not only for whoever posted the leaked clips.
That breadth has drawn attention from players and streamers who say they have no connection to the leaks. YouTuber Matthew Judge, known online as DarkViperAU, has said one of the named servers carries his name but is not one he operates, and that he believes CyberLeek may simply have joined a community built around his channel.
Company and Platform Response
Discord has said it handles DMCA subpoenas as a matter of course. A company spokesperson told Variety that Discord reviews and complies with valid subpoenas as a routine part of operating its platform. Microsoft's Xbox division has also signaled cooperation with the investigation.
What Remains Unverified
Several core facts of the case are still unresolved, and reporting so far has not established them.
✓ Identity of the person or group behind CyberLeek: unconfirmed
✓ Production of subpoenaed records: due September 4, not yet reported as delivered
✓ Any arrest, charge or lawsuit naming an individual: none reported
New clips have continued to appear online even after the subpoenas were granted, and Rockstar Games has not issued a public statement addressing the leaks or the litigation.
Where the Case Stands
As of this week, the court has granted Take-Two's subpoena requests, but the central question — who is behind CyberLeek — remains unanswered.
Take-Two has since expanded its effort, seeking similar records from X over accounts using variations of the CyberLeek name, according to multiple reports. The company has not filed a civil lawsuit naming an individual defendant, and no criminal charges have been brought in connection with the current round of leaks. The subpoenas are a discovery tool aimed at identifying a potential defendant, not a finding of wrongdoing against any specific person.
We are working closely with Take-Two and Rockstar Games to support efforts to protect creative works and intellectual property.— Scott Van Vliet, Xbox Chief Technology Officer
Microsoft and Discord have until September 4 to comply with the court's order. Whether that produces a name behind CyberLeek, or simply another round of leaks, is not yet known.
