Tech firms and studios across the creative industry may need stringent data protocols and preventive measures to avoid data breaches.
In the case of Game Freak, one of three stakeholders in Pokémon, alongside Nintendo and Creatures Inc., developer of the Pokémon Trading Card Game, we have had a reason to understand what Typhlosion entails and what we heard in the news just recently about its data breach experience.
What Is Typhlosion?
Typlosion is a Fire-type Pokémon in the Pokémon franchise. It is otherwise regarded as the final evolution of Cyndaquil, a Fire-type starter Pokémon from the Johto region. It is known for its high Special Attack stat, making it a powerful user of Fire-type special moves. In a recent attack on Game Freak, which has caused a buzz across media outlets and social media to a large extent, it has been learned that its impact can be pretty overwhelming.
What happened to Game Freak?
Recently, Game Freak, the primary developer of Pokémon games, suffered a serious data breach that exposed over 2,600 items of personal data belonging to its employees to the public.
According to the tech firm, the breach, which reportedly occurred in August 2024, also uncovered a massive trove of documentation on Pokémon.
In a statement issued after information obtained from the leaked files began to appear widely on Saturday and Sunday and dated Thursday, October 10, Game Freak disclosed that some of the documents published on public domains as a result of unauthorised access to its servers by a third party include source code for complete builds of past games amongst others.
However, other sources reportedly poring over the leak claim that the unearthed documentation includes unreleased creature designs, game and feature prototypes, and complete game builds. Game Freak’s statement did not encapsulate some of these.
“Game Freak […] has discovered that personal information of our employees and others was leaked in connection with unauthorized access to our servers by a third party in August 2024,” the tech firm stated (via machine translation).
Game Freak’s statement notes that the affected server has already been rebuilt and apologises for its misdemeanour, adding that it is contacting affected employees individually.
“We sincerely apologise for the great inconvenience and concern this has caused to all those involved. We have already rebuilt and re-inspected the server and will strive to prevent recurrence by further strengthening our security measures,” it added.
What’s next for Game Freak?
Data breaches are inherently detrimental to any tech-based firm. In addition to exposing sensitive information, including customer data, intellectual property, and financial records, unauthorized access can lead to financial losses due to legal penalties, fines, and compensation claims.
In addition, the loss of trust from customers and business partners can damage the firm’s reputation, resulting in a decline in user base and revenues. For Game Freak, the future seems blurry at the moment, as it may incur losses arising from penalties and financial losses if affected employees take legal action against it.
In another light, it might be a wakeup call for the studio to strengthen its security measures to avoid such data breaches in the future.
