That’s exactly what happened with GTA 6 Online. Rockstar Games has stayed almost entirely silent on its next online multiplayer mode — until an employment tribunal in Edinburgh forced the studio to explain, under oath, just how seriously it guards that secret.
Table of Contents
What GTA 6 Tribunal Revealed
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Employment tribunal, Edinburgh |
| Case | Rockstar Games vs. 31 former employees (IWGB union dispute) |
| Key leak | Employees discussed an “online 32-player format” |
| Rockstar’s description | “One of the most closely guarded secrets of the company” |
| Witness | Jennifer Kolbe, Rockstar’s Head of Publishing |
| Current GTA Online cap | 30 players per session |
| GTA 6 release date | November 19, 2026 |
How the Secret Came Out
According to reports from Dexerto and GTA BOOM, the case centers on 31 former Rockstar staff challenging their dismissals after allegedly discussing sensitive project details on a private Discord server. In its own legal filing, Rockstar quoted internal testimony describing how employees in the room were “candidly referencing game features,” specifically mentioning “an online 32 player format which was highly confidential at that time.”
Jennifer Kolbe, Rockstar’s Head of Publishing, testified that discovering this conversation was “extraordinarily alarming” — language strong enough to suggest the company treats even casual mentions of unreleased features as a serious security breach.
Just How Secretive Is Rockstar, Exactly?
The filing didn’t stop at describing one leaked detail. Rockstar directly compared its internal secrecy practices to how Apple protects unreleased iPhones or how Coca-Cola guards its formula. That comparison lines up with previously reported security measures at the studio, including mandatory NDAs for visitors, bans on personal devices connecting to internal systems, escorted access for contractors, and even opaque window film reportedly installed after attempts to photograph offices using drones.
This level of paranoia isn’t without reason. GTA 6 has already suffered one of gaming’s most infamous leaks — the 2022 breach that began with a phishing attack, giving a hacker access to an employee’s computer and internal Slack channels, ultimately resulting in dozens of development footage clips spreading online. Rockstar has also indicated that at least one employee was previously fired for allegedly sharing information that surfaced through known leaker “GameRoll.”
So, Will GTA 6 Online Actually Support 32 Players?
Not necessarily. The tribunal documents confirm only that a 32-player format was discussed internally at some point in development — not that it’s the final, locked-in player count for launch. It’s worth noting that figure would be a modest bump over GTA Online’s existing 30-player cap, which makes it a believable direction, but still unconfirmed.
What is confirmed: GTA 6 itself is set to release on November 19, 2026, with the online multiplayer component expected to arrive separately, likely sometime in 2027 — giving Rockstar more runway to build out a fuller online experience without rushing it alongside the single-player launch.
For more gaming news and leak roundups, check out TechnoSports’ gaming coverage.
FAQs
1. Will GTA 6 Online support 32 players?
It’s unconfirmed. Court documents reveal Rockstar employees discussed a 32-player format internally, but the company hasn’t officially confirmed this as the final player count.
2. Why did Rockstar disclose GTA 6 Online details in a tribunal case?
The information emerged as part of Rockstar’s legal defense in an employment tribunal, where the company argued that former employees had shared confidential project details on a private Discord server.
