Switch 2 Leakers Beware: Nintendo Knows How To Find You
Nintendo has become extremely skilled at tracking down leakers, and former employees claim that the company has honed its skills over a long time in the gaming industry. As the Switch 2 console prepares to hit stores worldwide on June 5, some enterprising individuals have managed to get their hands on early stock, leading to a flurry of leaks around the new console. However, for those leakers, Nintendo's reputation for protecting its intellectual property (IP) makes them a prime target.
According to former Nintendo Minute series hosts Kit Ellis and Krysta Yang, who shared their insights in a recent video, Nintendo has developed a sophisticated system for identifying and tracking down leakers. This expertise dates back to the original Switch console, when it became apparent that someone had accessed the menu before its launch in 2017.
"It was like code red, to find out what happened," Ellis said, recalling the incident. "The interesting thing is, they can get pretty precise of finding where this is, who this is, like, what store. These things get scanned and identified, and there are so many little identifiers that you might not even think of." Yang added, "They will find out who it is."
While Nintendo's reputation for family-friendliness may make some believe that the company is less concerned with protecting its IP, nothing could be further from the truth. In recent years, Nintendo has demonstrated a willingness to take drastic measures to safeguard its business interests.
For example, the company recently issued a subpoena request to a California court, seeking information about Discord users who may have leaked sensitive information about Pokémon Teraleaker, a person who revealed details about upcoming projects from Game Freak and The Pokémon Company. This move highlights Nintendo's commitment to enforcing its intellectual property rights.
Other notable examples of Nintendo taking action against individuals or organizations deemed a threat to its business include the arrest of Gary Bowser on federal charges for creating and selling tools to hack video game consoles like the Switch, and the finding that website operator Dstorage was liable for failing to remove pirated Nintendo games from their site.
As the launch of the Switch 2 console approaches, those involved in leaking information may want to exercise caution. It seems that Nintendo is now more skilled than ever at identifying and tracking down leakers, and it will stop at nothing to protect its IP.
Contact Us
Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email us at news@gamespot.com