x
Grand Theft Auto Mastermind Resurfaces With GTA 6 Intel
Image of Grand Theft Auto 6, Courtesy of Rockstar Games

The hacker who single-handedly sent the gaming world into a frenzy with the massive Grand Theft Auto leak has resurfaced from behind bars with some wild new claims. Arion Kurtaj, the mind behind the GTA 6 gameplay footage dump, is now speaking from a prison cell, dropping hints that the game’s source code is floating around in the digital underworld. This situation throws a whole new layer of uncertainty onto the already secretive development of the next installment in the legendary series.

Prison Cell Selfies Show Hacker Living Large

Arion Kurtaj hasn’t been in the public eye much since his sentencing back in late 2023. A jury found him guilty on several charges, including fraud, which led to a pretty unique punishment. Instead of a standard prison term, the judge handed down an indefinite hospital order, a decision made because doctors needed to determine when he would no longer be a threat. The court’s concern stemmed from reports of his violent behavior while in custody and a stated determination to get back to his old tricks.

However, the story has taken a sharp turn recently because Kurtaj has apparently been moved from the hospital to a prison facility. Over the last few days, screenshots of what look to be Telegram conversations with the hacker himself have popped up all over the internet. These messages paint a picture of surprisingly relaxed conditions behind bars, with claims he’s even making around seven hundred pounds a month through benefits. How does someone convicted of major cybercrimes end up with such a comfortable setup?

GTA Leaker Enjoys Fishing Trips From Prison

Kurtaj describes his time in the mental hospital as amazing. He talks about having access to the community, going fishing, cooking his own food, and even going on shopping trips. Now that he’s in prison, he still gets three hours of shop time each week and eight hours for his beloved fishing hobby. It certainly doesn’t sound like the harsh, restrictive environment most people imagine when they think of incarceration.

Photos accompanying these messages, allegedly from a Snapchat account using his name, show the prisoner kicking back in his cell. One selfie includes text complaining about awaiting trial for some bullshit hacking charge. Another picture has text scrawled over his face, mentioning that his phone is about to be seized, but he figures he’ll get another one soon. This raises a very obvious question: how is he getting phones in the first place?

How A Drone Delivered a Phone to a Hacker

Well, according to the conversations, a friend smuggled the phone in using a drone, complete with a charger. Kurtaj also mentions that communication is allowed with a basic Nokia burner phone, which explains how he’s managing to stay connected. This access has allowed him to drop perhaps the biggest piece of news yet regarding the future of GTA 6.

In one of the chats, Kurtaj speaks with an individual named Omar about the source code. When Omar speculates that the source for the next game must be out there somewhere, Kurtaj confirms it definitely is. He then asks if the source got leaked, showing he’s still very much in tune with the hacker scene. It appears the full code for GTA 6 is being held tightly by a select few.

Hackers Explain Why They Won’t Drop GTA Code

Omar has since taken to Twitter to share more from the conversation and elaborate on the situation. He claims a collective of people currently possesses the GTA 6 source code but is gatekeeping it. Their reasoning is surprisingly patient: they want Rockstar to actually release the game before they consider putting the code up for grabs. This is the same group rumored to have leaked the GTA V source code back in 2023.

Omar believes these individuals have likely been tinkering with the code for years now. He suggests this is a major reason why GTA 6 has faced so many delays and seems so cautious. It makes sense that Rockstar would be worried if they knew a complete blueprint of their game was in someone else’s hands, just waiting for the right moment to surface.

GTA Hacker Faces Crucial Court Date in 2026

So, what happens next for the man at the center of this chaos? Kurtaj has communicated that his next court hearing is scheduled for April 2nd, 2026, at Southwark Crown Court in London. He claims the Secretary of State for Justice decided to send him back, and he’s even put out a request for supporters to attend the hearing. The countdown is on for a major update on his legal standing.

The gaming community is left waiting and watching to see if the GTA source code will ever actually emerge. The fact that it’s out there, even if it’s being held back, creates a strange tension around the entire project. With the court date only a few weeks away, this ongoing saga is far from finished. More updates will arrive as this strange story continues to unfold.

This article first appeared on Total Apex Entertainment and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!