Pokémon Developer Game Freak Reportedly Hacked, Massive Amounts Of Data Allegedly Leaked

Updated [Sun 13th Oct, 2024 15:55 BST]:

Game Freak has acknowledged the leak in an official statement. A third-party apparently gained unauthorised access to a company server earlier this year – accessing personal information including names and email addresses of current and former employees.

Source code, new games, past projects and beta Pokémon designs that were never used have also reportedly been uncovered. Here’s the official statement from Game Freak (translation via Nintendo Everything):

Notice and apology regarding the leak of personal information following unauthorized access

Game Freak Inc. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Satoshi Tajiri; hereinafter referred to as “our company”) has discovered that personal information of employees and others was leaked in connection with unauthorized access to our server by a third party in August 2024. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and concern caused to all involved.

1. Leaked personal information
Personal data regarding our employees, etc.
Items: Name, company email address
Number of items: 2,606,
*Our employees and contract workers (including former employees and ex-employees)

2. Responses to individuals whose personal information has been leaked
We are contacting the affected employees individually. For those who cannot be contacted individually due to resignation or other reasons, we will notify them through this announcement and set up a contact point to respond to inquiries regarding this matter.

3. Measures to prevent recurrence
We have already rebuilt and inspected the server, and will strive to prevent recurrence by further strengthening our security measures.

4. Inquiries regarding this matter
If you are affected by this matter, please contact the following office for inquiries:
[Inquiry form]

Once again, if there are any significant updates or developments, we’ll let you know.

Original story [Sun 13th Oct, 2024 05:30 BST]:

Pokémon developer Game Freak has apparently been hacked and it’s seemingly resulted in a large amount of data – from source code to future project details – leaking online.

As reported by Nintendo Everything, source code for multiple Pokémon DS titles has allegedly surfaced.

The same story claims the codename for the tenth generation of the Pokémon has been discovered, and it’s also mentioned how the Switch successor is the target platform and “the game is at least being tested for the current Switch as well”.

“Codenames are also popping up, including “Gaia” – which is apparently what Gen 10 is going by internally. Speaking of which, the new gen is apparently being developed for “Ounce”, which supposedly confirms Switch 2’s codename.”

Along with this, development on the upcoming title Pokemon Legends: Z-A is believed to be “already finished”.

There’s also seemingly some evidence of a Pokémon title which was supposedly a collaboration with another developer. Apart from this, unused Pokémon pixel art beta designs from multiple generations are reportedly beginning to pop up on social media and elsewhere online.

Pokemon Legends: Z-A is the next project from Game Freak and was officially announced earlier this year in February. Its initial trailer confirmed the game would be set in Lumiose City and would be arriving on “Nintendo Switch systems” in 2025. Based on this latest report, it appears to be a “normal Switch game”.

Nintendo (who has hosted the Pokémon games on its platforms for almost three decades now) has previously been caught up in some massive leaks itself, including the infamous ‘gigaleak’ which saw multiple projects, games and source code leaked.

This story is developing and if we hear any significant updates or official statements about this latest leak, we’ll let you know.