Pokemon developer Game Freak has reportedly hacked and stolen unannounced game data, as well as Nintendo Switch 2 codename leaked online

UPDATE: Game Freak has issued a statement confirming that the company suffered a data breach in August 2024.

The company said its server was illegally accessed, containing 2,606 instances of current, former and contracted employee names and email addresses. The Japanese statement is dated October 10, 2024, and does not mention any Pokémon data that has emerged since then.

In the statement, Game Freak apologized to everyone affected by the data breach and insisted that the vulnerability at the heart of the hack has since been patched.

ORIGINAL STORY: Pokemon developer Game Freak has reportedly suffered a major hack that led to the leak of stolen data including codenames for the tenth generation Pokemon games and even the Nintendo Switch 2.

As reported by Nintendo Life, the leaked data includes the codename for Nintendo’s next-gen console (called “Ounce”), the codename for the unannounced 10th generation Pokemon game (called “Gaia”) and the codename of the announced Pokémon Legends: ZA. (“Ikkaku”).

Neither Nintendo nor The Pokémon Company have issued a statement regarding the leaks. IGN has reached out to both for comment. (UPDATE: The Pokemon Company has now issued a statement above.)

Codenames for two versions of the Gen 10 Pokemon game are part of the leak (“K” and “N”), which may be related to Nintendo’s intention to release it for both the Switch and its successor as a cross generation title. According to Nintendo Life, “Ounce” is mentioned as the target platform.

A Pokemon game codenamed “Synapse” is also reportedly mentioned. This unannounced game is said to be co-developed with another studio, with some reports indicating that it’s some sort of Pokémon MMO.

Elsewhere, the source code for DS titles Pokémon HeartGold, SoulSilver, Black 2 and White 2 have been leaked, leading to stolen unused assets for Pokémon and even music from the games appearing online .

Outside of the games themselves, there is plot information related to an unreleased sequel to the 2019 Detective Pikachu movie, supposedly called The Great Detective Pikachu. This film was reportedly directed by Jordan Vogt-Roberts (The Kings of Summer, Kong: Skull Island) and was slated for release in 2024, so it’s unclear what happened to it. In fact, there’s evidence to suggest that a live-action Pokemon movie trilogy was considered at one point, with the third apparently revolving around the Game Boy.

The data also includes everything from emailed meeting summaries to information about Pokemon history, with a mention of a previously unannounced Netflix live-action Pokemon show.

This Pokemon leak rekindles memories of Nintendo’s infamous 2020 ‘gigaleak’, which revealed canceled games, prototypes, source code, development tools and unknown internal communication as part of what was then the largest leak of internal video game information ever released.

Nintendo has yet to reveal its next-generation console, dubbed Switch 2 by the community ahead of an official announcement. Last month, alleged prototype images of the Switch’s successor surfaced online. Nintendo has yet to comment on the images.

What we have are developers say they plan to release their next games on Switch 2. When Switch 2 finally comes out, Nintendo expects to have plenty of stock availablewhich in turn will combat the scalp.

As for Pokemon, Pokemon Legends: ZA has a vague release window of 2025, with Nintendo saying it will be coming to “Nintendo Switch systems.” This sentence led to speculation that Pokemon Legends: ZA will also be coming to Switch 2.

Fans are bracing for one of the longest breaks between major Pokemon releases in franchise history. With no main entry released this year, and no news of a remake, the Pokemon trading card game on mobile it will be the biggest series of 2024.

Wesley is IGN’s UK news editor. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can contact Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].