Game Freak has been allegedly hacked, with source codes for Pokemon games reportedly leaked

International_Pokémon_logo.svg.png

It appears another "gigaleak" has gone down, involving Nintendo. According to sources online, it appears that Game Freak has been hacked, resulting in internal data from the company being leaked to the public. Those involved in the hacking community or those within general Pokemon related groups are claiming that while they will not be discussing or dissecting the specifics within the leak, it initially is being claimed that there is a total of 1TB of data.

This allegedly includes the source code for Pokemon Platinum, source codes for Pokemon HeartGold and SoulSilver, beta builds of Pokemon Black and White 2, beta builds of Pokemon X and Y, and potential internal codenames for upcoming Pokemon projects. Within it are mentions of an online Pokemon game, a collaborative project between Game Freak and Studio ILCA, the potential code name of the Nintendo Switch 2 being "Ounce", and a project named Gaia, which may be the next generation of Pokemon titles.

Further details are slowly being posted on X, and as more becomes clear, we'll be sure to update this post with new information.

:arrow: Source: X.com: CentroLeaks
:arrow:Source: X.com: 3clipse_tt
:arrow: Source: X.com: SwitchTools

[UPDATE]

  • As some of the data from the gigaleak hints towards a "Gen 10" Pokemon game, industry insider NecroLipe claims that Pokemon Gaia will launch for both the Switch and its successor system.
  • Users on ResetEra claim that a playable build of Legends Z-A is included in the leak.
  • Ikkaku, Gaia-K, and Gaia-N are all codenames with Nintendo Switch product codes.
  • Synapse appears to be an "online multiplayer" game. This is the collab project with ILCA, who worked on BD/SP. One claim states that it's similar to an MMO, while another says it's closer to Splatoon.
  • Contrary to the claims of there being a version of Legends Z-A that is close to complete, the leaker has apparently said they don't wish to spoil the surprises of future unreleased games, so those will not be included in the leak.
  • The hack is the result of a phishing attempt on a Nintendo Dev Portal user.
  • Beta Gen 3 Pokemon sprites were leaked
  • Internal design documents for Gen 4 and Gen 5 were leaked.
  • An official map editor for Gen 4 is in the files.
  • Logo and boxart design from Game Freak were included.
 

lMRlAsura

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If I remember correctly previous N64 decomp efforts specifically banned people from taking part if they had seen gigaleak code. If any inspiration is taken from the leaked source code the decomp is no longer "clean room" and therefore illegal. It would potentially completely destroy the decompilation effort.

The clean room approach is partly what makes decomps and the things that are made with them untouchable legally.
Wait. Isn't using the code for REFERENCE ONLY is fine, tho?
As long as they don't insert any of the code but instead write an equivalent in another language, it's fair game.
That should fall under reverse engineering.
 

Graxer

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Wait. Isn't using the code for REFERENCE ONLY is fine, tho?
As long as they don't insert any of the code but instead write an equivalent in another language, it's fair game.
That should fall under reverse engineering.
No, that completely breaks the clean room defense. That relies on the fact that no inspiration was taken from the real code whatsoever.

Everything has to be recreated solely through reverse engineering.
 

lMRlAsura

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No, that completely breaks the clean room defense. That relies on the fact that no inspiration was taken from the real code whatsoever.

Everything has to be recreated solely through reverse engineering.
Oh, I understand. What a shame, tho. That could have shortened quite a lot of the dev time.
 
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urbanman2004

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Except if Palworld really did use code that wasn't there own, Nintendo is completely justified.

And you can blame Ryujinx and Yuzu being taken down on the devs and people who didn't keep their piracy under the table. Y'all forgot it's illegal, whether ya like it or not.
No one cares what you think.
 

ChronosNotashi

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Security can only do so much in a phishing scam, especially if the rumor is that it's an ex-employee.

Please put your hate-bone away and think rationally for once. Phishing can get around the absolute best security, that's how it works.
Pretty much this. As noted before, I've worked in customer support, and I was also in a server management course in college, with one of the topics discussed being server/data security. And the funny thing about server/data security is this: when it comes to protecting sensitive data from unauthorized access, you have to constantly be fortifying your defenses, keeping security systems up to date, adjusting your security strategies, and making sure EVERYONE that is handling the data is kept up to date on all this. Because you have to attempt to plan for, quite literally, ANYTHING that can and will attempt to get to that data.

If you're the one trying to gain unauthorized access, though? You only need to succeed in breaching those defenses once. That's it. All a hacker or phisher needs is one successful attempt, and they're free to grab whatever they can before the security teams kick them out and start running the damage control step of handling a security breach. And this can happen...to ANYONE.

Nintendo hater or not, let this be yet another reminder to take the security of personal information seriously.
The leak occurred seemingly on October 10, 2024; personal data of over 2,606 retired or active employees was compromised back in Aug, 2024. The leak contains names and company e-mail addresses, so far nothing crucial like IDs (i.e., passports).

https://www.gamefreak.co.jp/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/info20241010.pdf

Translation:
And there it is: the dark part of the leak, and potentially the real purpose/goal behind it (contrary to the idea of it being "revenge" or "vengeance" for the PalWorld lawsuit, which the leaker reportedly didn't even comment on) - information that could be used to ruin people's lives for one's own benefit. Spilling the details on concepts and such for past Game Freak games is just a bonus for the leaker.
 
Last edited by ChronosNotashi,

Bladexdsl

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no shit how does suckmedickdo like a taste of their own medicine?! I'm sure it wasn't illegal when they use dirty bully and scare tactics against fan made projects circumventing official laws like sending goons to someones house and threatening them to quit development (another company used to do that in the past can you guess who it was? I'll give you a hint their name starts with A and ends with E) because they ONLY cater to japan (who will gladly stick up for their them like when palworld was sued the whole of japan was lining up to defend their master on the internet it was truly pathetic) tough shit if it's illegal and i hope it happens again and again and again. the c**ts need to be taught they can't get away with this shit any longer.
 
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Kiiro_Yakumo

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Except if Palworld really did use code that wasn't there own, Nintendo is completely justified.

And you can blame Ryujinx and Yuzu being taken down on the devs and people who didn't keep their piracy under the table. Y'all forgot it's illegal, whether ya like it or not.
I thought I have explained it pretty clear that emulation is not illegal.
These emulators weren't taken down for "existing" because emulation is not illegal.
If for example Bitchendo would release today Switch 2 Electric Boogaloo and for the sake of example at the same day Switch 2 emulator would come to existence without breaking other laws - like having BIOS dump in the code - then this emulator is 100% LEGAL and that's it. If emulation would be rendered illegal by itself, Dickendo would be very FIRST VICTIM of this "brilliant idea".
 
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JustABadger

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I thought I have explained it pretty clear that emulation is not illegal.
These emulators weren't taken down for "existing" because emulation is not illegal.
If for example Bitchendo would release today Switch 2 Electric Boogaloo and for the sake of example at the same day Switch 2 emulator would come to existence without breaking other laws - like having BIOS dump in the code - then this emulator is 100% LEGAL and that's it. If emulation would be rendered illegal by itself, Dickendo would be very FIRST VICTIM of this "brilliant idea".
With enough money you can sue anyone making an emulator during the first couple of years of the Switch 2 for “unfair competition”, because the law (at least in the US) is muddy enough to let the Nintendo lawyers have enough leverage, especially if you charge money for it.

Sony lost the case against Bleem! because they went after them for copyright infringement and misappropriation of trade secrets, but they still forced them not to use PlayStation’s photos when selling the emulator. They also tricked the antitrust about Sony having an illegal monopoly at the time. Nintendo has no such thing. They would win a lawsuit very easily because the good and angelic hackers that would work on a Switch 2 emulator would be too greedy not to set up a Patreon to charge people with.

Anyway, we’re talking fan fiction territory now. Nothing of the sort has happened (yet?).
 
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smf

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Wait. Isn't using the code for REFERENCE ONLY is fine, tho?
As long as they don't insert any of the code but instead write an equivalent in another language, it's fair game.
That should fall under reverse engineering.
No, it's not fine and the way most people do reverse engineering is illegal as well

I thought I have explained it pretty clear that emulation is not illegal.
These emulators weren't taken down for "existing" because emulation is not illegal.
If for example Bitchendo would release today Switch 2 Electric Boogaloo and for the sake of example at the same day Switch 2 emulator would come to existence without breaking other laws - like having BIOS dump in the code - then this emulator is 100% LEGAL and that's it. If emulation would be rendered illegal by itself, Dickendo would be very FIRST VICTIM of this "brilliant idea".
Emulation isn't illegal, like driving a car isn't illegal.

But you can modify your car such that driving it is illegal, or you can drive too fast.

These arguments are like someone caught driving at 120mph with a 100% tint on the windscreen, then saying "but driving is legal"

If your emulator violates the DMCA then it's illegal. It's unclear whether you could work round it, because nobody tried.

I'm sure it wasn't illegal when they use dirty bully and scare tactics against fan made projects circumventing official laws like sending goons to someones house and threatening them to quit development (another company used to do that in the past can you guess who it was?
What "official laws" did they "circumvent"?

No, that completely breaks the clean room defense. That relies on the fact that no inspiration was taken from the real code whatsoever.

Everything has to be recreated solely through reverse engineering.
There is no clean room for reverse engineering someones game and then releasing it as your own

Clean room reverse engineering only works for interoperability.
 
Last edited by smf,

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