You’ve probably seen the grainy footage by now. It’s all over X and TikTok—those tiny, somewhat mundane snippets labeled as GTA 6 postcard clips. They aren’t cinematic trailers or high-octane car chases. Instead, they show Lucia getting out of a truck or a character docking a "LomBike."
People are losing their minds over it. Honestly, it’s kinda hilarious. After years of waiting, the community is dissecting a three-second clip of a bike rack like it’s the Zapruder film. But there’s a reason this specific leak, which surfaced in late 2025 and is still dominating conversations in January 2026, feels different from the wave of AI fakes we've been drowning in.
It’s real.
The Benjamin Chue Leak Explained
This wasn't some mysterious hooded hacker. The footage actually came from the professional demo reel of Benjamin Chue, a veteran animator who spent over 25 years at Rockstar Games. He posted his portfolio on Vimeo, likely for recruitment purposes, and tucked away in that reel were a few seconds of work labeled explicitly as Grand Theft Auto VI.
Rockstar scrubbed it almost immediately. But the internet doesn't forget.
The clips show a level of technical "boringness" that AI just can’t replicate yet. One snippet features a male character (likely Jason) interacting with a "LomBike" docking station. It’s a parody of the real-world LimeBikes. He turns the bike, sits on it, and then docks it back. Another shows Lucia jumping out of the bed of a pickup truck in two different ways—one where she vaults over the side and another where she just hops down.
Why does this matter? Because it confirms the granular level of interaction Rockstar is aiming for in Leonida. In GTA V, animations were often canned and stiff. Here, we see weight, physics, and a level of polish in the "small" movements that suggests the world will feel incredibly tactile.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Postcard Clips
There’s a massive misconception that these clips are "new" gameplay. They aren't. While they leaked recently, the build they were captured from is clearly older—likely pre-alpha footage from 2021 or 2022.
- The Graphics: Some fans complained that the textures looked "flat." That’s because these are animation tests, not final lighting passes.
- The Context: These aren't "postcards" in the literal sense of an in-game collectible. The community dubbed them "postcard clips" because of their short, snapshot-like nature, though some theorists think they might link to a photo-sharing mechanic within the game's social media system.
- The Characters: We see Jason and Lucia, but the models look slightly different than the ones in the official Trailer 2. This proves just how much Rockstar iterates on character design over a five-year span.
The Connection to the Rockstar Lawsuit
You can't talk about these leaks without mentioning the drama at Rockstar's offices. As of January 2026, the company is embroiled in a legal battle with the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB).
During a tribunal hearing on January 12, Rockstar actually confirmed that several employees were fired for leaking project details. One of those firings happened in late 2025, right around the time these animation clips started circulating. It’s a messy situation. Rockstar claims the firings were about protecting intellectual property; the union claims it’s "union busting" disguised as security enforcement.
Regardless of where you stand, the court documents inadvertently "verified" many of the leaks we’ve been debating. We now know for a fact that the game features a dual protagonist companion mode, a 6-star wanted level involving K-9 units, and a dynamic weight system similar to Red Dead Redemption 2.
Will It Actually Release in 2026?
Rockstar officially moved the release date to November 19, 2026.
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I know, it hurts. We were all hoping for that May 2026 window. But according to Jason Schreier and other industry insiders, the game wasn't "content complete" as of late 2025. They’re in the "polish and optimize" phase, which for a game this size, takes forever.
The "postcard clips" actually give me some hope here. If they are still refining how a character sits on a rental bike, they are going for a level of immersion that most developers wouldn't even dream of. They aren't just making a game; they’re building a simulation of Florida—excuse me, Leonida—that has to last for the next decade.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're hunting for more info, don't just click every "GTA 6 Gameplay" link on YouTube. Most are AI-generated trash designed to farm clicks. Here’s how to stay actually informed:
- Watch the Take-Two Earnings Call: The next one is scheduled for February 3, 2026. This is where the big bosses confirm if the November 19 date is still the plan. They won't show a trailer, but they will talk about "fiscal windows."
- Look for "LomBike" References: Keep an eye on the official Rockstar Newswire. They’ve already teased the bike-share program in a screenshot.
- Ignore the "Map Leaks": Every week, a new "full map" surfaces. Most are just fan-made composites based on the 2022 coordinates. Until Rockstar drops the official map, take everything with a massive grain of salt.
The wait is long, but these tiny, leaked moments of Lucia jumping off a truck show that the DNA of the game is solid. It’s the small details that make a Rockstar game feel alive.
To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the Glasgow Employment Tribunal updates regarding the Rockstar lawsuit. Those boring legal documents are currently providing more factual information about the game’s features than any "insider" on X. Focus on the verified animator portfolios and official Take-Two financial reports to avoid the cycle of fake hype.