Teen in GTA 6 Leak Given Indefinite Hospital Order

In a significant legal development, Arion Kurtaj, an 18-year-old from Oxford, England, responsible for the unauthorized release of early Grand Theft Auto 6 (GTA 6) prototype footage in 2022, has been handed an “indefinite hospital order.” This decision comes after a thorough evaluation of Kurtaj’s actions and the risks he poses to the public.

Kurtaj’s hacking activities were not limited to GTA 6; he was also involved in breaches affecting companies like Uber and Nvidia. Court proceedings highlighted his violent behavior while in custody, leading to numerous reports of harm or damage. His actions, combined with his intent, as indicated by a mental health assessment, to engage in further cybercrimes, have resulted in this stringent ruling.

Kurtaj’s hacking activities and severe sentence

Medical evaluations underscored Kurtaj’s acute autism, contributing to the determination that he is currently unfit for a standard trial. His involvement in the Rockstar Games hack, where he used an Amazon Fire Stick, smartphone, and hotel room TV to access and leak 90 unreleased clips of GTA 6, further exacerbated concerns about his future actions.

On the evening of Thursday 22 September 2022, the City of London Police arrested a 17-year-old in Oxfordshire on suspicion of hacking, as part of an investigation supported by the @NCA_UK’s National Cyber Crime Unit (NCCU).

He remains in police custody. pic.twitter.com/Zfa3OlDR6J

— City of London Police (@CityPolice) September 23, 2022

Despite the successful reception of GTA 6’s reveal trailer, which amassed over 100 million views in mere days, Rockstar Games emphasized the detrimental impact of the leak. The company estimated recovery costs amounting to $5 million, not to mention the thousands of hours of staff resources diverted to address the breach.

Previously, in a warning to Rockstar, Kurtaj threatened to leak the game’s source code unless contacted on Telegram. However, his arrest preempted any significant damage, averting potential severe repercussions for the game’s development. It’s worth noting that other game studios, like Insomniac, have also faced similar breaches recently.

While the unauthorized GTA 6 leak has certainly garnered attention, Rockstar Games remains undeterred in its commitment to releasing the game. The official unveiling of GTA 6 occurred on Dec. 4, a day ahead of schedule, in light of the leaked footage. Gamers can anticipate its launch in 2025 on platforms such as PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

In summary, Arion Kurtaj’s actions have led to significant legal consequences, emphasizing the serious ramifications of cybersecurity breaches in the gaming industry. As studios continue to enhance their security measures, the overarching challenge remains ensuring that potential threats, like Kurtaj, are identified and addressed promptly to safeguard both intellectual property and public trust.