Arion Kurtaj, the hacker behind the 2022 leak of early GTA 6 footage, is due back in court on November 9, 2026, just ten days before the game finally launches. Preview report
The date comes from his own legal team. In a LinkedIn post first spotted by GTAVice.net, the barristers' chambers Red Lion Chambers said "the case is scheduled to start on November 9th at Woolwich Crown Court."
What we know about the trial
- Date: scheduled to start Monday, November 9, 2026, barring a postponement.
- Court: Woolwich Crown Court in south-east London.
- Defence team: barristers Trevor Archer and Andrew Herd of Red Lion Chambers, GTA BOOM reports.
- Charges: not set out in public reporting so far. Reports describe the case only as relating to the leak offences.
Kurtaj hasn't been convicted of any charges in this new case, and we won't speculate on its outcome. UK law limits what can be published while a trial is under way, so expect coverage to be light once it starts.
How we got here: the 2022 leak
In September 2022, about 90 clips from an early GTA 6 development build appeared on GTAForums. Confirmed It was the biggest leak in Rockstar's history at the time. Rockstar confirmed the breach and said development would continue unaffected, and the first official trailer didn't arrive until December 2023.
Kurtaj was a member of the Lapsus$ hacking group, which also targeted companies including Uber, Nvidia and BT. At his 2023 trial, a psychiatric assessment meant he was judged unfit to stand trial in the normal way, so the jury was asked only whether he carried out the acts, not whether he intended to commit crimes. The jury found that he did, and he was sentenced to an indefinite hospital order in a secure hospital.
In July 2026, BBC cyber correspondent Joe Tidy reported that Kurtaj had left hospital and was in a regular prison awaiting a retrial in November. Preview report Public reports haven't explained the legal route to a new trial.
Is this connected to CyberLeek?
No link has been reported. Kurtaj was in custody throughout 2026, while the CyberLeek leaks began on August 18 and returned this week with a threat to release the full game. Rumor / leak Take-Two is pursuing the CyberLeek case separately through legal subpoenas to tech platforms.
The timing is still striking. Rockstar spent years trying to put the 2022 leak behind it, and now the case returns to court in launch month, as a new leaker tries to spoil the story.
Key dates
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| September 2022 | About 90 early GTA 6 clips leak after a hack of Rockstar |
| December 2023 | Kurtaj is given an indefinite hospital order after a UK trial |
| July 2026 | BBC reports he's in a regular prison awaiting a November retrial |
| August 18, 2026 | The separate CyberLeek leaks begin |
| November 9, 2026 | Trial scheduled to start at Woolwich Crown Court |
| November 19, 2026 | GTA 6 launches on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S |
Questions about the trial
When is the GTA 6 hacker trial?
The case against Arion Kurtaj is scheduled to start on November 9, 2026 at Woolwich Crown Court in London, according to his barristers' chambers. That's ten days before GTA 6 launches.
Who is Arion Kurtaj?
A former member of the Lapsus$ hacking group. In 2023 a UK jury found he carried out the 2022 Rockstar hack that leaked about 90 early GTA 6 videos, as well as attacks on other companies.
Why is Kurtaj being tried again?
Public reports haven't explained the legal basis or listed the charges. BBC reporting in July said he had left a secure hospital for a regular prison to await a retrial in November.
Is Kurtaj connected to CyberLeek?
There's no known link. Kurtaj was in custody when CyberLeek began leaking in August 2026.
Will the trial affect GTA 6?
No. GTA 6 still launches on November 19, 2026 for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.