Nintendo doesn't mess around when it comes to spoilers. Nintendo taking action against early leaks of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.
Highly-awaited release of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom has been subject of expectation for ardent followers of the series. However, the recent disclosure of physical copies of the game has triggered a furor among the gaming community and Nintendo alike. The internet has been awash with spoilers and pirated versions, giving rise to a fervid manhunt to uncover the source of the leak. Reggie Fils-Aimé, the former head of Nintendo of America, has also thrown his hat into the ring, using a Liam Neeson quote to warn the Zelda leaker about the dire consequences of their actions.
Physical copies of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom were leaked ahead of its scheduled release date, leading to spoilers and pirated copies being shared online. Nintendo is known for fiercely protecting its intellectual property, and they have been known to respond severely against those who share or leak their games in advance. Previously, the company forced a hacker to repay $14 million for the rest of his life and even forced GameStop to fire an employee who was responsible for a leak. It is safe to assume that Nintendo will take this leak seriously.
Former Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aimé, who is no longer with the company, took to Twitter to warn a Zelda leaker that he possesses a "special set of skills." The Twitter conversation began with a user going by the handle 'imahumanandimagamer' bragging about having a copy of Tears Of The Kingdom early with a simple 'lol' tweet. Reggie, who was not amused by the situation, responded with the famous Liam Neeson quote: "I don't know what you want." What I do have is a very specific set of skills that I have honed over a long career and that make me a nightmare for people like you.
Visual of original tweet. pic.twitter.com/IqeTSYI227
— Reggie Fils-Aimé (@Reggie) May 3, 2023
The implication was that Reggie would expose the leaker to Nintendo, and within a few hours, the original tweet was deleted, and the whole account was nuked. Whether this was due to Nintendo themselves or the leaker getting out while the getting was good is unclear. However, it is unlikely that the leaker will be bragging about having a copy of the game early anymore.
Nintendo is renowned for its tenacity in safeguarding its intellectual property, and the recent disclosure only intensifies their determination to take stringent measures against anyone who violates their copyright. The repercussions of being caught with an unauthorized copy of the game prior to its launch are severe and could potentially result in steep monetary fines or even imprisonment.
Nintendo already take proactive measures for removing pirated versions of the game from various websites and social media platforms. It is likely, Nintendo will employ investigative methods to track down the other parties involved in the leak, particularly those responsible for extracting and disseminating pirated copies.
Nintendo's response to the leak of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom has been swift and severe, with former Nintendo of America boss Reggie Fils-Aimé even joining in the witch hunt. It is clear that the company will take strong action against anyone who shares their games early, and the consequences can be severe. The leak serves as a reminder of Nintendo's track record for fiercely guarding its intellectual property and its dedication to seeking severe consequences against those who violate it.