Late last week, it was revealed that Game Freak, the developer of the Pokémon game series, fell victim to a cyberattack. It is believed to be the largest breach in the franchise's history. Game Freak has already confirmed the hack, stating that it took place in August 2024.
Pokémon: Detective Pikachu
According to media reports, the leaked data included source codes for Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver, documentation outlining future cinematic projects for the franchise, as well as details on both canceled and announced games, including those for the Nintendo Switch 2. Additionally, materials about a multiplayer project in collaboration with the Japanese studio ILCA, reminiscent of Splatoon, were also leaked.
Game Freak itself issued a statement confirming the hack and the leak of personal data of 2,600 former and current employees, including freelance workers. The company did not officially confirm any other stolen data. In its statement, Game Freak apologized and announced that it is strengthening its cybersecurity measures.
In recent years, other major studios have also faced hacker attacks, including Insomniac Games, Ubisoft, Rockstar Games, CD PROJEKT RED, and Capcom, underscoring the scale of the security issue within the industry.