Verdict after the 2022 GTA VI hack: hacker given indefinite hospital order
VGC reported on December 21, 2023 that the 18-year-old who hacked Rockstar and leaked GTA VI footage will be held in a secure hospital for an indefinite period. A 17-year-old co-defendant received a youth rehabilitation order.
Published
On December 21, 2023, the British outlet VGC reported the verdict against the hacker who broke into Rockstar Games and published footage of GTA VI. According to the report, a British judge ordered that 18-year-old Arion Kurtaj be held in a secure hospital. He will stay there until a mental health tribunal decides he is no longer a danger to others.
What VGC reported
VGC writes that after a seven-week criminal trial, Kurtaj was convicted of being a member of the international hacking group Lapsus$. He was also found guilty of serious computer misuse, blackmail and fraud. The group also attacked tech companies including Uber, Nvidia and the mobile network EE, according to the report.
Judge Patricia Lees explained the order by saying Kurtaj remained fixated on hacking. Given his skill at gaining unrestricted access to computers, she saw a high risk that he could cause serious harm to the public. A 17-year-old co-defendant, who cannot be named, received a youth rehabilitation order with an 18-month supervision requirement.
Looking back at the hack
In September 2022, more than an hour of early development footage from the next Grand Theft Auto appeared online. On September 19, 2022, Rockstar confirmed a network intrusion in which confidential data, including that footage, had been downloaded. The studio said it did not expect any long-term effect on its ongoing projects and that work on the game would continue as planned.
Context
The verdict report came a little over two weeks after Rockstar released the first official trailer on December 4, 2023. Damage figures attributed to Rockstar differ between outlets and could not be verified. We therefore do not give a number.
Background on GTA VI leaks is collected in our leaks section. Further reports are in the news.
Sources
VGC: GTA 6 hacker sentenced to an indefinite hospital order (opens in a new tab)
VGC: Confirmed: The first Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer will premiere next month (opens in a new tab)
Rockstar Games: Grand Theft Auto VI Trailer 1 (opens in a new tab)
Event: 21 December 2023 · Checked on 27 October 2026.
