According to Eurogamer, both Nintendo and The Pokémon Company were able to discover the culprit behind the Pokémon Sword and Shield pre-release leaks and have decided to sever all tied with a Portuguese website named FNintendo.
We don't quite often see someone with a review copy breaking an embargo and confidentiality in such a way. Most journalists who receive a copy of the game usually sign a non-disclosure agreement with the publishers. There is also a strict time on when outlets can post reviews.
What's even more rare to see is a publisher going out of its way to publicly point at the culprit responsible for leaking the details.
Although both Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have severed the ties with FNintendo, there are no suggestions whether there are going to be any legal implications or not. However, this public statement also serves as a reminder of the upcoming Sword and Shield's expansions.
Here is the full statement issued by Nintendo and The Pokémon Company:
"In early November, Nintendo identified a number of photographs taken from game play that revealed multiple new and unannounced Pokémon from Pokémon Sword and Pokémon Shield. These photographs had been posted online and Nintendo, together with The Pokémon Company, quickly identified the person responsible for these leaks, and took immediate action," the statement reads.
"These Pokémon were leaked by a reviewer for the Portuguese website FNintendo, who had received an early copy of the game for review purposes. Both he and FNintendo failed to handle confidential material, resulting in a clear breach of the confidentiality agreement between Nintendo and the media outlet. As a result, Nintendo will no longer work with FNintendo. Nintendo will always protect its intellectual property and brands. Leaks hurt not just Nintendo, but the thousands of employees who work hard to bring games to market, and the millions of fans around the world who look forward to news and surprises."
So what do you think? Do you agree with Nintendo for pulling their partnership with FNintendo? Do you think this is all a bit harsh for a game that still sold tons of copies? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
