Huge Game Freak leak reveals future project dates and Pokémon source code

Game Freak, a Japanese development studio founded in 1989 and best known for the Pokémon series of games, has suffered from a massive leak that left its past, present and future projects wide open. This frightening breach reportedly occurred in August 2024, but it is only now that the data is surfacing online.

The Game Freak leaks have revealed an estimated 1TB of data, covering everything from the source code of older titles to the codenames of upcoming Pokémon games.

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A report first published by Nintendo Life claimed that Game Freak suffered from a massive leak that saw hundreds of confidential files spread online. Now Game Freak has released a statement confirming that the breach is accurate and saying that 2,606 employees were affected.

The company has stressed that the vulnerability that led to the leak has already been fixed, but the data changes hands online – and there is no way to get it back.

One of the most tantalizing pieces of information from the leak concerns the next generation of Pokémon games. The files reveal references to “K” and “N” as well as a project codenamed “Synapse,” which some users claimed was a Pokémon MMO made in collaboration with another, unnamed studio was compiled.

Retro fans have started poring over leaked source code for DS-era Pokémon games like Black and White 2, HeartGold and SoulSilver. These particular leaks have resulted in never-before-seen images and cut assets surfacing. Some of these images concern concept art for starter Pokémon and characters that never saw the light of day.

For the full breakdown of leaked Pokémon characters, check out PokeLeaks on Reddit.

Elsewhere, eagle-eyed players have spotted hints of Legends ZA and even some details about what’s coming next for Switch 2.

Even now this story continues to develop.

Did you discover anything shocking in these leaks? Let us know in the Insider Gaming forums.

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