Nintendo Seeks Discord Info of Leaker Behind Massive Pokémon Data Breach

Nintendo has launched a legal offensive to find the individual or people behind one of the largest Pokémon-related leaks in franchise history, dubbed 'Teraleak' by the gaming community.

A Breach at the Heart of Game Freak

In August 2024, hackers breached the servers and compromised source code, concept art, and thousands of data files of Game Freak, the Nintendo partner that develops Pokemon. Game Freak acknowledged the breach two months later, initially confirming only the exposure of personal data, but no game development content.

The Emergence of 'GameFreakOUT'

Shortly after Game Freak's announcement, a Discord user under the alias 'GameFreakOUT' started to post unreleased materials on a server named 'FreakLeak.' These leaks included assets from unreleased Pokémon games, concept art, internal communications within the company, and what appeared to be early builds of a few upcoming games.

Nintendo's Legal Counteroffensive

On April 18, 2025, Nintendo of America filed a DMCA subpoena request with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The goal was to compel Discord to disclose the real-world identity of 'GameFreakOUT,' including name, address, phone number, and email.

According to the legal documents posted by Polygon, Nintendo says the materials posted by 'GameFreakOUT' violated their copyrights, particularly around content related to Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

The subpoena claims that Discord must comply with their request, which allows copyright holders to obtain identifying information on infringers via subpoena.

A Familiar Strategy with a Powerful Precedent

Nintendo's move isn't without precedent. In 2019, The Pokémon Company successfully sued individuals who leaked Sword and Shield strategy guide images before the game's release. That case ended with the leakers each paying $150,000 in damages and attorney's fees.

If Discord complies, Nintendo will likely pursue further legal action against 'GameFreakOUT.'