Pokémon Legends: Arceus isn’t due out until the end of next week, but copies of the game have already leaked into the wild. Pictures of physical copies of the game have started appearing online. Soon after that, videos, photos, and spoilers of the game itself began spreading like wildfire across social media. Nintendo seems to be working overtime to try and quell the Pokémon Legends: Arceus leaked information by having any posts that show the game shut down.
Fans will want to be careful over the next week when following the game on social media as details about the story are now making the rounds. Along with story details, there are also details of the game world, missions, and Pokédex in the wild.
This isn’t the first time Pokémon games have leaked early. Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl were leaked online around two weeks ahead of launch last year. Unlike this leak, that one seemed to be an early digital copy of the game that was being passed around. The Pokémon Legends: Arceus leak is more of a run-of-the-mill physical copy of a game being sold early situation.
Still, Nintendo doesn’t take kindly to leaks of its games. Especially Pokémon. Last year, the company settled with two individuals who leaked details of Pokémon Sword and Shield via a strategy guide. Both of the individuals were ordered to pay $150,000 in damages to Nintendo. In another response to leaks for Sword and Shield, Nintendo blacklisted a Portuguese video game website that was responsible for some of the leaks. The website, FNintendo, had a review copy of the game and was found to be the source of leaks that revealed some unannounced Pokémon that appeared in the game.
In the run-up to the release of Pokémon Legends: Arceus, be sure to be careful when looking at the game on social media.