Game Freak, the company that develops for Nintendo, suffered an enormous data breach over the weekend. The breach reportedly revealed that the internal codename for the next Nintendo Switch console is “Ounce.”
According to the Pokémon insider CentroLeaks, more than a terabyte of information was leaked, including source codes for older Pokémon titles and the Switch 2 codename. The security
reach is reported as one of the biggest leaks in the gaming industry’s history.
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Nintendo’s next step: The Switch 2 codename ‘Ounce’
Ounce has built anticipation for the next generation of Nintendo‘s game console. The official name remains unknown, but the leak corresponds to earlier rumours. IGN said that “Ounce” was disclosed along with the details of unannounced Pokémon games.
Of the leaks was a new Pokémon game going by the working title ‘Gaia’ and the multi-player game dubbed ‘Synapse’, which might be a Pokémon based MMORPG. IGN says all these titles are under development for the Switch and new console.
A growing concern in gaming security
The breach is similar to the Nintendo website leak known as the “Giga leak” of last year. The source codes of the previous versions of games, including HeartGold, SoulSilver, Black 2, and White 2, were released along with hardware leaks. While providing specific examples of such breaches that had happened, IGN acknowledged such breaches could target game launches and even marketing strategies.
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Nintendo has yet to issue a statement; however, the timing here was questionable, particularly as the successor to the Switch is expected to be out by March 2025. The leak situation could prompt the company to find a new way of addressing future game launches.
We should try to take all of this with a pinch of salt because there are some speculations that this codename goes up to “Ounces,” shortened to “oz.” Not only did members of Famiboards discover the name in Ounce earlier this year, but it was also reported in software development kits in 2024.
In addition, many theories have been made about what the most recent codename might signify. Nintendo has promised to release a reveal of the new hardware this fiscal year; However, the Switch ‘successor’ name has not been announced officially. The best “appropriate way” has been said to be put forward as the next Switch model for characterising this innovation.