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Pokémon has set X on fire.
It’s not as if this hasn’t happened before. Fandoms are passionate and even the reveal of a single cute character can seemingly take over the feeds of thousands of people. But it’s a lot more serious this time.
Over the weekend, Game Freak suffered what could easily be described as the biggest data breach in Pokémon history. Everyone and their mother can now access years of Pokémon documentation that reportedly contains the full source code of generations of games, concept art, and even disturbing background mythology on the Pokémon Typhlosion.
At times like these, there is no solid authority for where to get information and that can be overwhelming. Social media sites like X have become a dumping ground for unorganized and unverified information. Aside from a statement from Game Freak acknowledging that employees’ personal data was accessed, we don’t have any confirmation that any of it is real.
That’s not to say we have to dismiss all the leaked information. It’s just that fans would benefit from being a bit more skeptical of what they see online in the wake of such a massive leak. So just in case you want to become a media-savvy Pokémon Master, we have created a very short list of what to keep in mind as you read information online.
- Ask what the source of the information is. Right now the distribution of information is being led by a handful of social media accounts that share and reshare alleged information from several sources. If an account is sharing dozens of posts a day, it’s possible the owner of the account isn’t vetting the source or isn’t verifying every claim. So when you see a big leak, it’s helpful to ask questions like: What is the purpose of this account? Who (or what software) translated this information? Who made this graphic? This will allow you to evaluate the source on a basic level.
- Remember the information was never intended for a mass audience. This is an obvious one, right? But at certain points it needs to be said. Drafting and editing is a normal part of any creative process, and we don’t need to see every draft of a project. Artists are allowed to have unreleased designs!
- Allow it to spark your curiosity in how the games were made. While game developers may not want their work to be exposed in this way, a peek behind the curtain can deepen our appreciation and understanding of the source material, if we approach it that way. For example, if you encounter some early concept art for a Pokémon you like, you can learn more about the artist who made it or you could try to read more about the art style of that time. Games are made by people and have a unique history!
- Just wait. There are thousands of files in this breach. It could take community members, game historians, and developers years to bring certain details to light. What we see published in the early weeks will only scratch the surface, so keep that in mind.
It’s important to note: None of these tips is a substitute for fact-checking the claims we see in the documents. However, keeping these guidelines in mind can go a long way. We can’t all go straight to the source, but we can be more aware of what we read online. Pokémon isn’t just a game about catching monsters; it’s also about collecting information via the Pokédex. So at times like these — where everything is everywhere and nothing seems certain — it can be helpful to take a step back and put on the Pokémon professor’s hat.
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