Nintendo I can’t keep the leaks under control. The Switch era has seen a plethora of leaks throughout its lifespan, often resulting in full 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 prevent them from happening, and it’s only getting worse.
Unfortunately, video game leaks tend to be a regular occurrence in the industry. The carnage resulting from a major leak can be quite stressful, as fans will often have an increased level of scrutiny, making quick judgments about titles that may not even be finished. As exciting as it is to discover entirely new information that was previously inaccessible, the consequences of such leaks have unforeseen and sometimes dangerous repercussions for all parties involved.
Mario Party, Mario & Luigi: Brothership and 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. Several major games this year had all of their content leaked online long before their intended release, including Super Mario Party Jamboree and Mario and Luigi: Brotherhood. In case of Brotherhoodresulted in the revelation of information such as developer Acquire’s involvement, which was kept secret by Nintendo.
Perhaps the most devastating breaches in recent weeks occurred in the Nintendo Switch Online Playtest leak. Despite Nintendo’s attempts to keep the experience secret through NDAs, the content of the event was still leaked even before the Playtest went live. Leaks have revealed an MMO experience for testers to co-develop an expansive planet, suggesting this could be a prototype for a larger project planned for the future.
It’s hard not to feel bad for Nintendo regarding the Playtest leak. A clear attempt to create a collaborative experience that would aid the game’s development was immediately ruined by the leak. This 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 made worse by Game Freak’s Pokémon leaks
Decades of Pokémon information leaked online
The current problems that have plagued Nintendo’s releases pale in comparison to Pokémon co-owner of Game Freak. The company suffered a major data breach in August this year, resulting in decades worth of Pokémon information becoming accessible to the public. These leaks included a scrapped dynamic camera for Pokémon X and Yinformation about Pokémon cut across generations and details about the origins of the Pokémon universe itself.
The leaks didn’t end with previous work, as new information about Game Freak’s upcoming projects was also revealed. This included new information for Pokemon Legends ZAincluding Pokémon that will appear in the title, as well as indications of a new MMO game in development, codenamed Rodeo. It’s hard to deny how exciting these discoveries can be, especially for fans of the Pokémon series. However, this is overshadowed by the more disturbing 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 available. next to the Pokémon leaks. This was confirmed by Game freak (the statement linked on the company’s website is in Japanese) when it released a statement addressing the breach. In addition to the infinity of Pokémon information that caught fans’ immediate attention, the Game Freak data breach is a demonstration of the dark side that comes with video game leaks and the consequences they can have.
Leaks ruin the experience for developers and fans
Video game leaks can have serious consequences
Multiple parties are affected in different ways after a major video game leak. Developers, in particular, are often the worst victims for several reasons. The Game Freak data breach is a clear example of the personal security concerns involved. The idea that a breach could result in the theft of personal information relating to people’s names, addresses and other banking information is beyond terrifying.and demonstrates the true danger that leaks can cause.
The volatile reactions that can be caused by video game leaks can have a negative impact on developers and their willingness to take risks on future projects.
Leaks can also be extremely discouraging for developers who dedicate a lot of time and energy to projects. The level of scrutiny and criticism that leaks are often subjected to is extremely stressful and upsetting for developers who put their heart and soul into every game. For example, The Last of Us Part 2 faced backlash over key story details being leaked, despite the game not even being available to play. The volatile reactions that can be caused by video game leaks can have a negative impact on developers and their willingness to take risks on future projects.
In addition to the impact on developers, fans also suffer from video game leaks. Fans could have new games ruined for them as spoilers leak onlineenjoying the fun and excitement of trying out a brand new title. The same applies to leaked revelations; The same excitement and surprise that comes from a big game announcement can be wasted if someone ruins it ahead of time, taking away the fun that comes from game reveals.
How can Nintendo solve its leak problem?
There are several prevention methods that Nintendo can use
As the company continues to deal with consistent major video game leaks, Nintendo will certainly be looking for ways to resolve the issue. There are several preventative measures that can be taken to reduce as many video game leaks as possible that Nintendo could take. One method could be to use Non-Disclosure Agreements granted 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 that hackers are unable to create a breach. The use of internal servers in companies and the use of secure and encrypted software ensure that hackers have more difficulty accessing any type of information. Ensuring all servers and software are at the highest level of security possible not only prevents games from leaking too soon, but in Game Freak’s case, ensures that employees can feel safe working at the company.
Despite all preventive measures Nintendo could lead, video game leaks are still an inevitability. While it can be exciting for fans to discover previously unknown information about their favorite franchises, it’s worth keeping in mind the damage that video game leaks can cause. When people’s personal safety is questioned, it’s worth asking whether it’s worth the effort people put into finding these leaks.
Source: Game freak