GTA 6 review copies reportedly have watermarks, with Rockstar to punish leakers

Many fans didn't expect GTA 6 review codes to go out about 3 weeks before its release date. A longer lead time increases the chances of story spoilers and marketing-disrupting revelations. However, according to a content creator, Rockstar has taken precautions to prevent leaks and track down offenders.

Jeremy, aka ManaByte, made the claim about the embargo restrictions on social media. A watermark allegedly flashes the reviewer's name on the screen. That would make it more difficult to spread GTA 6 leaks without detection. If any journalist tried to share content from the Xbox or PS5 version, they risk being “eternally blacklisted from all future Rockstar releases.”

Other publishers take similar measures with pre-release builds. Software like Denuvo TraceMark even exists to help companies implement these protections. In some cases, the imprints stay hidden during gameplay. Known for its strict security protocols, Rockstar could have also developed a unique watermarking system.

Leaks may still be inevitable

Flashing text is harder for tools to remove, particularly if its position changes constantly. Nevertheless, in the age of AI, it’s unlikely to pose an impossible challenge. The larger issue may be if the studio placed more subtle forensic markers, such as identifiers encoded in image pixels.

Whether this approach to GTA 6 reviews eliminates leaks remains to be seen. Fans worry about story spoilers, especially after Shirrako teased early access. The YouTuber is notorious for revealing pivotal plot points before or just after AAA games launch.

Despite the November 19th release date approaching, many performance-related questions linger. Co-studio head Rob Nelson suggested that day-one Xbox and PS5 builds would aim for 30 fps. Even so, he didn’t rule out late-stage visual optimizations.

Gamers are also interested in what advantages the PS5 Pro will offer. Often, Sony announces these enhancements on the PlayStation Blog, and they may be part of a marketing deal with Rockstar. Neither company likely wants a GTA 6 review leak to expose this information.