Nintendo can't seem to keep leaks under control. The Switch era has had a plethora of leaks throughout its lifespan, often resulting in full early releases of Nintendo's biggest titles, including the excellent The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and magical Super Mario Bros. Wonder. Even with a history of monumental leaks, like the historic Gigaleak in 2020, the company still can't seem to prevent them from happening, and it's only getting worse.
Unfortunately, video game leaks tend to be a regular occurrence for the industry. The ensuing carnage caused by a major leak can be quite stressful, as fans will often have an increased level of scrutiny, making swift judgments on titles that may not even be finished. As exciting as it may be to uncover brand-new information previously made inaccessible, the consequences of such leaks have unforeseen, and sometimes dangerous, repercussions for all parties involved.
Mario Party, Mario & Luigi: Brothership, & NSO Playtest Leak
The Last Few Weeks Have Been Difficult For Nintendo
If the last few weeks have proven anything, it's that Nintendo continues to struggle with security and data protection. Multiple major games from this year have had their entire contents leaked online long before their intended release, including Super Mario Party Jamboree and Mario & Luigi: Brothership. In the case of Brothership, it has resulted in information like the involvement of developer Acquire being revealed, which had been kept under wraps by Nintendo.
Perhaps the most devastating breaches of the last few weeks came in the leaked Nintendo Switch Online Playtest. Despite attempts from Nintendo to keep the experience under wraps through NDAs, the contents of the event were still leaked before the Playtest even went live. Leaks revealed an MMO experience for testers to develop an expansive planet together, suggesting this may be a prototype for a bigger project planned for the future.
It's hard not to feel bad for Nintendo with regard to the Playtest leak. A clear attempt to create a collaborative experience that would assist in game development was immediately ruined as a result of the leak. It could discourage Nintendo from trying something like this in the future, immediately demonstrating how uncontrollable leaks can potentially have an impact on developers and how they approach games.
These Are Worsened By Game Freak's Pokémon Leaks
Decades of Pokémon Info Has Leaked Online
The current issues that have plagued Nintendo's releases pale in comparison to Pokémon co-owner Game Freak. The company suffered a major data breach in August of this year, resulting in decades worth of Pokémon information becoming publicly accessible. These leaks included a scrapped dynamic camera for Pokémon X and Y, information on cut Pokémon across multiple generations, and details on the origins of the Pokémon universe itself.
The leaks did not end with previous works, as new information was also revealed about upcoming projects by Game Freak. This included new information for Pokémon Legends Z-A, including Pokémon set to appear in the title, as well as indications of a brand-new MMO game in development, going by the codename Rodeo. It's hard to deny how exciting these discoveries may be, especially for fans of the Pokémon series. However, this is overshadowed by the more distressing information obtained during this breach.
The hackers who gained access to Game Freak's records also made the personal information of the company's employees, past and present, publicly accessible alongside the Pokémon leaks. This was confirmed by Game Freak (linked statement on the company's webiste is in Japanese) itself when it released a statement addressing the breach. Beyond the plethora of Pokémon information that has grabbed the immediate attention of fans, the Game Freak data breach is a demonstration of the darker side that comes with video game leaks and the consequences they can have.
Leaks Ruin The Experience For Devs And Fans
Video Game Leaks Can Have Serious Consequences
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Multiple parties are affected in a multitude of ways following a major video game leak. Developers in particular are often the worst victims for many reasons. Game Freak's data breach is a clear example of the personal safety concerns that are involved. The idea that a breach could result in stolen personal information pertaining to people's names, addresses and other bank information is beyond terrifying, and demonstrates the true danger that leaks can cause.
Volatile reactions that can be caused by video game leaks could have a negative impact on developers and their willingness to take risks with future projects.
Leaks can also be incredibly discouraging for developers who give up mountains of time and energy towards projects. The level of scrutiny and criticism that leaks are often put under is incredibly stressful and upsetting for developers who put their heart and soul into each game. For example, The Last of Us Part 2 faced backlash over major story details that had leaked, despite the game not even being available to play. Volatile reactions that can be caused by video game leaks could have a negative impact on developers and their willingness to take risks with future projects.
The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered is a relatively small graphical leap, but a host of new additions make it an attractive rerelease for longtime fans.
Beyond the impact on developers, fans are also made to suffer from video game leaks as well. Fans can have new games ruined for them as spoilers get leaked online, taking the enjoyment and excitement that comes with experiencing a brand-new title. The same applies to leaked reveals; the same excitement and surprise that comes from a major gaming announcement could be squandered if someone spoils it ahead of time, taking away the enjoyment that comes from game reveals.
How Can Nintendo Fix Its Problem With Leaks?
There Are Multiple Methods Of Prevention Nintendo Can Use
As the company continues to deal with consistent major video game leaks, Nintendo is sure to be looking at ways to resolve the issue. There are multiple preventative measures that can be taken to reduce as many video game leaks as possible that Nintendo could adopt. One method could be the use of Non-Disclosure Agreements given to those lucky enough to receive early access to a game, preventing them from mentioning spoilers for fear of legal repercussions. However, the NSO Playtest is proof that this is not always the most effective method.
Video game leaks are still an inevitability.
Another option available to Nintendo or Game Freak is to ensure hackers are unable to create a breach to begin with. The use of internal servers within companies and the use of secure, encrypted software ensures that hackers have a more difficult time accessing any kind of information. Ensuring that all servers and software are at the highest level of security possible doesn't only prevent games from leaking too early, but in the case of Game Freak, ensures employees can feel safe working at the company.
Despite all preventative measures Nintendo could take, video game leaks are still an inevitability. While it can be exciting for fans to unearth previously unknown information on their favorite franchises, it's worth keeping in mind the harm that video game leaks can cause. When people's own personal safety is called into question, it's worth asking whether the lengths people go to find these leaks is worth it at all.
Nintendo is one of the world's most successful and popular video game companies. It was founded in 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, who started the company by making Japanese playing cards. When Nintendo broke into the video game industry, it exploded in popularity. Nintendo has released several consoles over the years, such as the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), Nintendo 64, Gameboy, Wii, and the Nintendo Switch. The company has also created several iconic franchises like Mario, The Legend of Zelda, Animal Crossing, and Pokémon.
Date Founded September 23, 1889
Subsidiaries Nintendo EPD , Nintendo SPD , Nintendo EAD
ConsolesNintendo DS , Nintendo 3DS , Nintendo Wii , Nintendo Switch , Nintendo GameCube , Nintendo 64 , Super Nintendo Entertainment System , Nintendo Entertainment System , Nintendo Wii U , Game Boy , Game Boy Color , Game Boy Advance , Nintendo Switch Lite
Custom image by Katarina Cimbaljevic
Custom Image by Ben Brosofsky 
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