Game Freak, the developer behind the popular Pokémon games, recently experienced a data leak due to unauthorized access to their server by a third party. This breach resulted in the exposure of personal information such as names and email addresses of current and former employees. Additionally, source code, new games, past projects, and beta Pokémon designs that were never used were also uncovered.
In response to this incident, Game Freak has issued an official statement apologizing for the inconvenience and concern caused by the leak. They have reported that personal data of 2,606 employees, including current, former, and ex-employees, was compromised. The company is taking steps to contact affected individuals and strengthen their security measures to prevent future breaches.
The leaked information includes details about upcoming projects, such as the codename for the tenth generation of Pokémon, referred to as “Gaia”, and the development of a new game for the Switch successor codenamed “Ounce”. Furthermore, it has been revealed that development on the upcoming title Pokemon Legends: Z-A has already been completed. Unused Pokémon pixel art beta designs from various generations have also started to surface online.
Pokemon Legends: Z-A, announced earlier this year, is set to be released on Nintendo Switch systems in 2025. Despite this leak, the game is still expected to launch as planned. Nintendo, the long-time host of Pokémon games, has faced similar leaks in the past, such as the ‘gigaleak’, which exposed various projects and source code.
As the situation continues to unfold, Game Freak and Nintendo are working to address the breach and provide updates to the public. Stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.
