Nintendo Seeks Subpoena to Identify Discord User Behind 'TeraLeak' Leak

Nintendo is actively seeking to uncover the identity behind last year's significant Pokemon data breach, known as the "FreakLeak" or "TeraLeak." The company has filed for a subpoena in a California court, aiming to compel Discord to disclose the personal details of the user known as "GameFreakOUT." This individual is believed to have initiated the leak by posting copyright-protected Pokemon content on a Discord server named "FreakLeak" last October, leading to widespread distribution across the internet.

The leaked content encompassed a range of materials, including artwork, characters, source code, and other elements related to Pokemon. While not officially confirmed, it is suspected that these materials were part of a data breach disclosed by Game Freak in October, which involved the unauthorized access of 2,606 cases of employee information. Interestingly, the leaked files surfaced online on October 12, followed by Game Freak's statement the next day, which was dated back to October 10 and focused solely on the employee data breach, omitting mention of other confidential company materials.

The "FreakLeak" revealed details about several unannounced projects, including early builds, cut content, and background information on various Pokemon games. Among the notable disclosures was information about "Pokemon Champions," a battle-focused game announced in February, and details about "Pokemon Legends: Z-A," which have proven accurate. Additionally, the leak included unverified information about the next generation of Pokemon, source code for DS Pokemon titles, meeting summaries, and omitted lore from "Pokemon Legends: Arceus" and other titles.

Although Nintendo has not yet pursued legal action against any specific hacker or leaker, the subpoena suggests the company is keen on identifying the individual responsible. Given Nintendo's history of stringent legal action against piracy and patent infringement, should the subpoena be granted, it is likely that further legal proceedings may follow.