Pokemon developer Game Freak hit with hack, internal info leaking

Pokemon developer Game Freak hit with big hack, leaking source code news about MMO-like game Synapse with ILCA, and more.

[Snookies12]

This is the first time a hack has me feeling happy. These pompous fools deserve to get hit with something to drop them down off their high horse pedestal. They had a hit formula decades ago, and they've just been riding off that for all of their careers. Bringing nothing but minimal effort enhancements for every full-priced game.

Up until just after Diamond/Pearl, I adored this franchise. After those, I realized we were just repeating the same thing over and over again. They can't even put in the effort to make a 3D game run at PS2 quality these days for their main franchise. That's honestly sad to see for a once great developer.

[Inverno]

Hacked or nah they'll keep lazily crapping out mediocre Pokemon games, and people will continue to defend them. "it's a game for kids" I guess kids deserve crap then. Like an idiot I bought the last game, couldn't even finish it cause of how dreadfully unimaginative it was. Meanwhile the anime has only gotten better and their cards have been selling like crazy.

[Cacabunga]

I’ve never been into this series.. I was already not into it when it first came out on gameboy..

I think Arceus was cool but just showed how lazy this developer is.

Instead of making a full open world game technically on point they release not even game in its pre alpha phase.

[__y2jb]

It is a game for kids. And kids love it.

[Kneetos]

People's personal data got leaked and is online for millions of people to access, that's nothing to feel happy about and anyone that does is a pig

This isn't just about games so get your head outta your ass before you choke on it

[Profchaos]

They've leaked tons of employees personal data and contact information none of those people deserved to have that happen and will result in a holes going after them and their families over some dumb game

[nommers]

It took you about 10 years to realize that? lol. They were COD before COD, but for jrpgs.

[Profchaos]

Feels like so many people have aged out of the franchise but don't want to admit it. It's a franchise aimed at kids not saying adults can't enjoy it but there's a reason why they can recycle content ideas and concepts at will because they generally rotate the fanbase every five years or so.

It's why games like Pikachu's adventure on Wii exist they make nursery rhyme videos on YouTube kids and get them in young and keep them interested until they age out.

I was there for gen one and aged out of the franchise by gen 2 now the kids in my family are there for gen 9 it's like Mickey mouse in a way there's a cycle

[jambola]

oh no, now we'll know about their next half assed crappy pokemon game

[-Foxtrot]

I bet most of the files are just CTRL C + CTRL V

[badz149]

Like that NES game catridge that had 10000+ games on it

[Amplitude]

It blows my mind that such an awful, technically embarrassing company still has access to one of Nintendo's biggest IP while they drop yearly garbage 15fps slop - and while every other first party Nintendo release has been knocking it out of the park with banger after banger. I'm not much of a Switch gamer but it's hard not to notice how impressive their output's been this gen, minus the Pokemon games.

That being said, the number of hacks this year is becoming a bit concerning.
Not even just in the gaming world, but government, infrastructure, news sites, the entire internet archive, etc. We probably shouldn't be cheering this on, unless it somehow results in [pretty much any] other devs getting the Pokemon license.

[porkChop]

Game Freak is a co-owner of The Pokemon Company along with Creatures and Nintendo. They have access because they have ownership.

[-Foxtrot]

You'd think though with all the money Nintendo has they'd have tried to go for full control or at least chip away at it slowly by gaining more shares of it or something.

I feel like if Nintendo did it in house the quality would have been a lot better over the years.

[Jin_Sakai]

Good? I mean I’ve fell in love with Palworld at this point.

[Profchaos]

Some people only see the company getting impacted by this and forget that all their employees personal data was tied up in this leak and trolls are going to go after them because they didn't get the game they wanted or something equally as dumb like it's their personal fault.

These hacks and leaks are often purely a distraction for a established company they might be fined by a governing body at worst but the reality is no other publisher would buy their data and use it as that's highly illegal.

So hackers who aim at these companies and try to sell game source code are more often than not incapable of doing so like the Rockstar hack or EA hack.

So I'm not sure what's to gain here outside of blackmail that won't get paid.

[badz149]

Time to sue them!

[Demetrius]

I dont remember the last time I played a Pokémon game they're so mediocre. They really could come out with a dope thoroughly made title. Different environments to go in, battling in dynamic weather etc smh I've always pictured a great Pokémon game but nope.

[Profchaos]

This is going to be a very unpopular opinion but.

The thing about Pokemons is there's a group of people who don't want to accept they have aged out of the franchise.

The Pokemon company isn't targeting adults who grew up playing blue and red they are targeting those players children with games like let's go Pikachu they can share with the next generation.

Also TPC generally aims their products from early childhood to pre teen with Pokemon nursery rhymes on yt kids to games like Pikachu's adventure to more advanced games like the newer ones.

And the thing about kids games is they can be janky kids don't care that much.

So reading so many comments about people hating on the fact they recycle ideas and gameplay concepts it's because you're not the target demographic anymore their target demographic is experiencing this for the first time. They won't make a Pokemon aimed at long term fans because long term fans are not their demographic and for the most part have moved on to other interests and franchises and may not even own a Nintendo system anymore.

In a way it's like saying I'm upset with SpongeBob because it didn't grow with me and offer more mature theme's aimed at me as an adult.

I'm not saying as an adult you can't still enjoy these games but don't expect them to grow and change into something they can't be something more mature that would isolate their actual demo like they won't implement guns and slavery mechanics like palworld

[stupidusername]

I think a lot of older gamers are aware of Pokemon being games targeting a young audience, but that doesn’t mean Game Freak gets a free pass for anything they do. They own one of the most profitable IPs in the world, but their games still release with technical problems and lack of creativity. I think it’s right to expect better games. I don’t understand the need to defend them. But I guess they don’t need to improve as they sell millions anyway.

[Profchaos]

Thing is do you need to be creative when your fanbase is a revolving door and generally sticks around for roughly 5 to 7 years before the following generation replaces them you can just recycle the same stuff and get away with it.

Honestly I'm not defending their games I think they are janky or low effort and I don't get why adults have any form of expectations for the franchise they sell millions and don't need to be better because if you ask the average 7 year old about Pokemons gameplay or frame rate they won't care and thus TPC and game freak make millions

The franchise has been going since 1996 so it's not far off 30 years old they generally recycle the same themes of friendship and teamwork good Triumphs over evil etc so to me I understand why they recycle so much and those people who have been working on the franchise for so long I highly doubt they are putting out their best work.

[gold_drake]

i wanna feel bad but i just dont.

the mediocrity that gamefreak has delivered is ridiculous.
especially for a AAA studio of this massive franchise.

[MeteorPanda]

considering how well known their networking is complete a$$ lm amazed they had not been hacked sooner.

this is a company that released a pokemon game with theonline pvp on one seed btw