In the weeks leading up to the release ofPokemon SwordandShield, a number of images and a great deal of information from the games leaked on the internet. These leaks, which occurred on both Discord and 4chan, revealed details about version exclusive Pokemon and theevolutions of everyPokemon SwordandShieldstarter, and it was not long before this information was extensively shared on social media. Now, The Pokemon Company is responding to the situation by suing the individuals that are responsible for these leaks.
According to a lawsuit that was revealed on Friday, The Pokemon Company International has hired law firm Perkins Coie to sue four currently unidentified Discord users. One of the users is believed to be the primary source of thePokemon SwordandShieldimages that were leaked, while the other users are accused of posting these images online. However, The Pokemon Company is still attempting to obtain the exact identities of these individuals.
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While it does not seem that the leaks had a dramatic impact on the games' bottom line, considering thatPokemonSwordandShieldhad the best opening week in Japanfor a Switch exclusive, outselling evenSuper Smash Bros.Ultimate, The Pokemon Company is taking a strong stance with this lawsuit. Even if the company is not successful in obtaining the identities of the leakers, the threat of a lawsuit may minimize the number of leaks that occur in the future.
Without question, these games have been controversial for a number of reasons leading up to their launch, with a great deal of backlash being directed at Game Freak forcutting the National Dex inPokemon SwordandShield. It still seems like these feelings haven’t quite blown over, despite the games receiving mostly very positive critical reviews, and it remains to be seen how Pokemon fans will ultimately receive the changes and limitations found inSwordandShield.
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