Nintendo seeks identity of Discord user who shared massive Teraleak Pokémon game leak

Nintendo leaks plagued the company leading up to the Switch 2 unveiling. However, the October 2024 Teraleak incident went beyond predicting a new console's specs. A Discord user known as GameFreakOUT shared a wealth of information about Pokémon games acquired from developer Game Freak. Now, Nintendo has filed a DMCA subpoena in a California court to uncover the poster's identity.

Nintendeal on BlueSky first reported on the subpoena, which asked Discord to reveal the legal name of GameFreakOUT. The filing doesn't guarantee a Nintendo lawsuit. Still, if identified, the individual likely faces further legal action.

On the FreakLeak server, the leaker offered copyrighted assets from Pokémon games dating back several decades. Revelations about Pokémon Legends: Z-A received the most attention. With the title still set for a 2025 debut, gamers gained insight into its release window and storyline. The Teraleak also involved unreleased Pokémon movies and character art.

While Discord vows to protect its users' information, it has shared names before in response to court orders. As explained in its Privacy Policy, "We retain and use your information in connection with potential legal claims when necessary and for compliance, regulatory, and auditing purposes." In 2019, Nintendo subpoenaed Discord and 4chan to track down Pokémon Sword and Shield leakers.

Fans often welcome Nintendo leaks, but GameFreakOUT distributed information about Game Freak employees. On Famiboards, many members view that action as reckless and dangerous. In this instance, Nintendo has support in its legal efforts to safeguard those involved with the Pokémon IP.