Pokémon Developer Addresses Significant Data Breach

Game Freak, the developer behind the Pokémon series, has confirmed a major data breach that exposed sensitive information belonging to thousands of individuals. This breach also led to the theft of confidential data, including details about upcoming Pokemon projects. The announcement comes after some of the stolen Pokémon-related data started to appear online, creating a buzz within the community.

Although leaks about Pokémon titles are not uncommon, the frequency of these incidents has increased significantly since October 2024. Recently, new information regarding the upcoming Gen 10 Pokémon games and an undisclosed multiplayer title has surfaced, alongside other internal materials. The scale of these leaks has prompted fans to nickname the event "Teraleak," highlighting its enormous scope.

Game Freak Confirms the Scale of the Data Breach

Before the most recent leaks hit the internet, Game Freak released a statement acknowledging that its systems were compromised by a hacker who gained unauthorized access to its servers. The company disclosed that the breach initially took place in August 2024, though the bulk of the stolen data has only recently become public. Among the compromised information are the personal details of 2,606 individuals, including names, phone numbers, and work email addresses, which belong to both current and former employees as well as contractors.

The Tokyo-based developer has stated that it has already taken measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. Alongside the employee data, the Teraleak has revealed details about an unannounced Pokémon multiplayer game and suggested that the Gen 10 games are currently under the codename "Gaia." Furthermore, the breach also exposed the source code for previous Pokémon titles like HeartGold, SoulSilver, Black 2, and White 2.

Possible Nintendo Switch 2 Codename Uncovered

One of the more surprising pieces of information from the Teraleak hints at the potential codename for the next Nintendo console, which might be called "Ounce" or "Ounces," depending on the source. This aligns with earlier predictions from the well-known but controversial Sega leaker Midori, who speculated in May 2024 that the new console would be named "Ounce."

This data breach is already being considered the largest in Pokémon history by some fans, given the amount of information that has surfaced. In its official statement from October 2024, Game Freak extended an apology to the affected employees and contractors whose personal information was compromised. One of the most noteworthy revelations from the leak suggests that the upcoming Gen 10 Pokémon games, known as Gaia, are in development for both the current Nintendo Switch and its successor—a move that would be a first for the series, as Game Freak has traditionally avoided cross-generation releases for its mainline titles.