Nintendo has officially taken legal action to unmask the individual responsible for a massive Pokémon data breach, known online as the “Teraleak.” On April 18, the gaming giant filed a request for a subpoena in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, asking the court to compel Discord to release identifying information about a user known as “GameFreakOUT.”
The major leak which is now being called the Teraleak, occurred last fall in October 2024, is considered one of the most significant leaks in Pokémon history. According to Nintendo’s court filing, the Discord user “GameFreakOUT” shared the unreleased materials on the FreakLeak server and encouraged others to “enjoy.” Screenshots of these interactions were submitted to the court as part of Nintendo’s evidence—albeit with some redactions.
The leaker reportedly posted a trove of confidential content in a Discord server titled “FreakLeak,” including alleged source code for the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Z-A, concept art, lore documents, internal development materials for next-generation Pokémon games, and even assets from unreleased titles. The leaks also allegedly included sensitive information about a live-action Pokémon Netflix series and a potential sequel to 2019’s Detective Pikachu film.
In a supporting declaration, Nintendo attorney James D. Berkley specified the that goal of the subpoena was to obtain the Discord user’s real name, postal address, phone number, and email address. With this details it would allow Nintendo to pursue further legal action against the user, though the current subpoena filing does not guarantee that a lawsuit is imminent. However, based on Nintendo's history we can guess it is probably coming.
The leak came just two days after Game Freak, the studio behind the Pokémon series, publicly acknowledged a breach in a statement on October 10th, 2024. Although the statement focused on compromised employee data, including names and email addresses of over 2,600 current and former staff, it stopped short of confirming that development assets had also been stolen.
This isn’t the first time Nintendo has sought legal recourse for leaked Pokémon content. The company previously sued individuals responsible for leaking images from a Pokémon Sword and Shield strategy guide prior to the game’s launch. Given the scope of the Teraleak and its potential impact on upcoming projects, it’s likely that Nintendo will continue to pursue legal action once the identity of the leaker is confirmed.
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