New GTA Leak Reveals Early Development Version

Plenty of Grand Theft Auto fans are currently on the lookout for any scraps of GTA 6 information, and leaks from years ago are still being pored over to extract every piece of information possible. Surprisingly, a mother lode of leaks just arrived for a different GTA game entirely.

As shared by MapleEllie on the GTAForums site, a test kit for GTA 4 has been shared online, featuring plenty of models and details from an early version of the game while it was still in development. Fans have started to pick through the array of files, and the forum is already full of highlights.

GTA 4 Development Build Leaks

One of the most interesting highlights comes courtesy of MCgames100, who’s spent some time scrounging up info on the radio stations and tracks in this build of the game. Songs range from funky classics like Dexter Wansel’s “Life on Mars” (not to be confused with David Bowie’s “Life on Mars?”) to Run DMC’s iconic “Sucker MC’s.”

Golden Saddle provides another interesting pull, highlighting some phone models featured in the early build. The rapid changes in phone technology at the time likely induced some of the shifts in models, including the abandonment of the early Badger phone seen here that also appeared in the second trailer for the game.

This Is A Big Win For GTA Fans

Fans have only had their hands on this build of GTA 4 for a few hours, so the discoveries made so far are likely just the start. As it stands, the early build can’t be emulated out of the box, but its treasure trove of assets could easily be a major boon to the PC modding scene. It’s also a cool discovery from an archival standpoint, giving the general public access to a greater understanding of GTA 4‘s development.

The GTA 4 leak isn’t quite as exciting as a new leak of GTA 6 would be, but it’s also less likely to cost anyone their jobs, so it might be the better alternative. For the most part, fans see the humor in the situation, with Mirac0909 commenting that “Rockstar gave us this so we wouldn’t get bored.“

Hopefully, those looking forward to GTA 6 won’t have to stave off boredom for too much longer. All signs still point to things staying on track for the currently planned release date of November 19, 2026, making for an exciting holiday season ahead. In the intervening months, revisiting Grand Theft Auto 4 might be the perfect way to kill some time.