Take-Two Takes Accuses PlayerAuctions of Selling GTA V Hacked Accounts

Take-Two Interactive, the publisher behind the immensely popular Grand Theft Auto franchise, has sued a third-party gaming marketplace PlayerAuctions, accusing them of selling hacked GTA V accounts, among others.

According to Take-Two, PlayerAuctions is not just another online marketplace. The gaming company says that the site operates as a hub for modded GTA V accounts, in-game currency sales, and unauthorized digital goods. All of these violate Take-Two’s intellectual property rights.

“PlayerAuctions operates, supervises, and profits from commercialized infringement of Take-Two’s copyrights and trademarks on an industrial scale,” the lawsuit states.

In GTA Online’s economy, players progress through missions to earn money, unlock assets, and gain experience points. Since it is also a place where people invest real money, it attracts cybercriminals.

According to a Polygon report, Take-Two says that PlayerAuctions allegedly sells pre-loaded accounts with billions in virtual currency, unlocked content, and high-level stats. Everything available via the marketplace is allegedly acquired through hacks and exploits.

Take-Two Wants It Shut Down

The lawsuit also claims that PlayerAuctions is not just a passive marketplace but an active enabler of cheating. It accuses the PlayerAuctions of:

• Recruiting sellers who use hacking software to generate in-game assets.
• Taking a percentage of every transaction, directly profiting from copyright violations.
• Encouraging GTA V players to break the game’s Terms of Service by selling and buying accounts.

The gaming publisher is asking the court to shut down PlayerAuctions’ GTA V marketplace and is demanding compensation for financial damages.

What Happens Next?

The case is still in its early stages, and PlayerAuctions has yet to issue an official response. However, if Take-Two succeeds, it could send a decisive message to similar platforms that allow the resale of game assets—especially when those assets come from modded, hacked, or illicitly obtained accounts.

While GTA Online players are not targeted directly, they should be aware that Take-Two’s retribution might come sooner rather than later if they obtained illicit goods or hacked accounts.