Nintendo Seeks Discord User Data in 'TeraLeak' Probe

Nintendo is taking legal action to uncover the identity behind last year's significant Pokemon leak, dubbed the "FreakLeak" or "TeraLeak." The company has requested a subpoena from a California court, aiming to compel Discord to disclose the personal details of a user known as "GameFreakOUT." According to court documents reported by Polygon, Nintendo seeks the name, address, phone number, and email address of this individual.

Last October, "GameFreakOUT" allegedly shared copyrighted content, including artwork, characters, source code, and other Pokemon-related materials, on a Discord server named "FreakLeak." These materials quickly spread across the internet. Though not officially confirmed, it is believed that these items were obtained during a data breach disclosed by Game Freak in October, which affected 2,606 current, former, and contract employees. Interestingly, the leaked files surfaced online on October 12, and Game Freak's statement, backdated to October 10, appeared the following day, focusing solely on employee data without mentioning other confidential materials.

The leaked materials revealed numerous unannounced projects, cut content, early builds of Pokemon games, and other background information. A notable revelation was "Pokemon Champions," a battle-focused game announced officially in February. The leak also included accurate information about "Pokemon Legends: Z-A," alongside unverified details about the next Pokemon generation, source code for DS Pokemon titles, meeting summaries, and excised lore from "Pokemon Legends: Arceus" and other titles.

Although Nintendo has not yet initiated a lawsuit against any hacker or leaker, the pursuit of this subpoena suggests a strong intent to identify and potentially take legal action against the person responsible. Known for its rigorous legal stance on issues ranging from piracy to patent infringement, Nintendo's move indicates that if the subpoena is granted, further legal steps may follow.