Discord Faces Subpoena from Nintendo in Pokemon Teraleak Probe

Nintendo has intensified its legal pursuit of the individual behind the major Pokémon data breach known as the “Teraleak.”

In a court filing dated 18 April, the company asked the US District Court for the Northern District of California to issue a subpoena compelling Discord to disclose the identity of a user known as GameFreakOUT.

The user is accused of leaking highly confidential and unreleased Pokémon game data on a server called FreakLeak in October 2024.

According to Nintendo, the leak—dubbed “Teraleak” due to the sheer volume of exposed material—included source code for the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Z-A, builds of older games, internal development documents, and concept art.

The company’s legal team claims the leaked content originated from Game Freak’s internal servers and included sensitive details about cancelled and unreleased projects.

James D. Berkeley, Nintendo attorney, stated:

“NOA is requesting the attached proposed subpoena that would order Discord Inc. to disclose the identity, including the name(s), address(es), telephone number(s), and e-mail address(es), of the user ‘GameFreakout,’ who is responsible for posting content infringing the Pokemon Game Materials.”

Nintendo is requesting GameFreakOUT’s name, address, phone number, and email, stating in a supporting declaration that the breach involved proprietary assets never intended for public release.

The move reflects Nintendo’s aggressive stance on protecting its intellectual property and its determination to hold the source of the leak accountable.

Nintendo Seeks Info on User Behind Pokémon Leak

Nintendo has confirmed it issued DMCA takedown requests to remove the leaked Pokémon materials, but the content continued to circulate widely online.

While the identity of the hacker who initially breached Game Freak’s servers remains unverified, the gaming giant believes a Discord user known as GameFreakOUT played a key role in distributing the unauthorized content.

In a legal declaration, Berkeley stated the subpoena aims “to obtain the identity of the Discord user ‘GameFreakOUT,’ who posted infringing content that appeared at the Infringing Server.”

The filing includes a partially redacted screenshot showing the user sharing a file on the server FreakLeak, accompanied by the message: “enjoy.”

The Pokémon leaks surfaced around 12 October 2024.

However, Game Freak had already disclosed on 10 October that its internal servers were accessed without authorisation.

The company acknowledged the breach compromised personal data from over 2,600 employees but did not confirm whether unreleased game content had also been stolen.

In response, Game Freak stated it has rebuilt the affected server and is implementing stronger security protocols to prevent future incidents.

This is not Nintendo’s first aggressive legal action against leakers.

In 2023, the company filed a similar subpoena to identify the source of a leak involving The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom art book.

Nintendo also pursued legal action against two Pokémon fans who leaked Pokémon Sword and Shield details, ultimately securing a $300,000 settlement.

The firm’s ongoing efforts underscore its uncompromising stance on intellectual property protection in the digital era.