Game Freak confirms massive data leak breaching employee information, source code, and assets
Pokémon developer Game Freak has been hacked, resulting in a massive leak of various data. This includes personal information and internal files relating to both existing and unannounced games.
The Game Freak hack was spotted by numerous Pokémon-themed accounts over the weekend. According to Centro LEAKS, it contains “multiple gigabytes of info,” including the source code and beta builds for games such as HeartGold/SoulSilver and Black 2/White 2.
As also reported by Eurogamer, there are also details on some cancelled and unannounced Pokémon projects, e.g. a Splatoon-like multiplayer title, as well as information about “Ounce” (internal codename for Nintendo Switch 2), concept arts, sprites, and other assets.
For all of those just tuning in, we’re currently covering the Game Freak Teraleak.
Lots of source files and beta content for past Pokémon games are currently leaking, along with a few details on upcoming projects.
We expect more information to be uncovered in the coming hours… pic.twitter.com/KdoJ4G87Sb
— Centro LEAKS (@CentroLeaks) October 12, 2024
Amid the leak reports, Game Freak released a statement dated October 10. The company confirmed that personal information of 2,606 employees and contract workers was leaked “in connection with unathorized access to our servers by a third party in August 2024.”
Game Freak pledged to prevent further breaches by “strenghtening our security measures.”
[Gigaleak]
Game Freak has issued a statement. They confirm that their servers were hacked in August 2024.
Personal information on their employees was also stolen in this breach.https://t.co/UClYG3vIYr pic.twitter.com/Df2qcYDVFY
— OatmealDome (@OatmealDome) October 13, 2024
In 2020, a massive hack a.k.a. “Nintendo Gigaleak” occured, exposing internal data on various Pokémon games and other projects. In addition, roughly 300,000 user accounts were compromised, with hackers obtaining personal infromation such as email, date of birth, and nickname.
