Rockstar Scrambles to Pull GTA 6 Animation Leak After Employee’s Demo Reel Goes Public

Rockstar is scrambling to wipe a leaked animation from the internet after footage believed to be from Grand Theft Auto 6 surfaced on a developer’s demo reel. Minimal as it was, the short clips have sparked a frenzy in the community, and Rockstar’s aggressive takedown has only fueled the fire.

Animator Benjamin Chue’s portfolio accidentally offered fans a glimpse behind the curtain. His now-removed reel briefly featured incomplete GTA 6 animations along with old Red Dead Redemption 2 work. While the footage itself is rough and tells us little about the finished game, Rockstar’s quick move to scrub it has basically confirmed it’s the real deal.

Inside the Leaked Clips: Lucia’s Debut and a GTA Take on LimeBike

The snippets don’t reveal a sprawling heist or flashy gunplay. Instead, Chue’s footage shows basic movement and object interaction, giving a rare peek at what game development looks like before the polish. One sequence focuses on a character, most fans are convinced it’s Lucia, one of GTA 6’s dual protagonists, interacting with a rental bike at a kiosk. The background is all placeholder grey, and the bike stands out in yellow, sporting the label “LomBike”. It’s an obvious nod to real-world micromobility brands like Lime and its recognizable LimeBike rental scheme.

This isn’t the first time Rockstar has leaned into parodying real tech. Earlier GTA 6 leaks from back in September showed in-game apps and websites lampooning platforms like Uber and WhatsApp. LomBike is just the latest in a long line of clever in-game mocks that keep GTA’s world feeling unnervingly close to reality.

Two other short clips put the spotlight on Lucia and a pickup truck. In the first, she perches on the truck bed, spins her legs around, and hops down. The second has her starting from the roof, dropping into the truck’s bed, then hopping out onto the asphalt. All three animations are basic, clearly pre-release, but they cement the leaks’ authenticity in the fans’ eyes.

Rockstar’s Swift Takedown Tells Its Own Story

So what’s got the fandom buzzing? It’s not what’s in the leak, it’s what Rockstar did about it. The studio wasted no time pulling the footage from Vimeo, where it was originally hosted. Anyone looking for Chue’s reel is now met with a simple error: “Sorry, we couldn’t find that page.”

This stands in stark contrast to the various AI-generated “leaks” that have flooded social media in recent weeks. Some depict Lucia strolling through Vice City; others stick her in bar scenes or getting out of a pool. None of those clips are being chased off the web. The difference is clear: only genuine leaks get Rockstar’s legal muscle moving. Everything else is left untouched, ignored as cheap imitations.

This isn’t just about internet drama. Rockstar, known for its tight security and obsessive secrecy, is sending a message; leaks like these matter, and they aren’t going to let them stick around. That heavy-handed approach has only added fuel to speculation, with many now seeing the takedown as the closest thing to an official confirmation that the footage really is from GTA 6’s in-progress build.

Rockstar Faces Turbulence Far Beyond Leaks

Leaks aren’t Rockstar’s only headache. The company is facing heat after recent staff layoffs, a move that’s drawn charges of union busting from employees. Over 200 workers at Rockstar North signed a public letter last month, condemning management’s actions. The controversy has even made its way to UK Parliament, where MP Christine Jardine called on ministers to defend game workers and stop these sorts of dismissals.

Reports suggest some employees were let go over private Discord chats discussing workplace issues, a detail that only adds to the turmoil swirling around the studio. For fans, the battle behind closed doors is almost as dramatic as the on-screen action Rockstar is famous for.

As GTA 6 hype hits new highs, even tiny, rough clips have the power to send the community into overdrive. But with Rockstar doubling down on secrecy, don’t expect a real peek until the studio is ready to show the world what’s next.