The recent massive leak of previously unseenPokémoncontent has thrown the franchise’s fanbase into a fervor, but ultimately much of this beta content shouldn’t matter. The result of a hack gaining access to Game Freak’s internal files, this is unquestionablythe largest leakPokémonhas ever seen, with a terabyte’s worth of information (including the personal information of employees) reportedly being compromised. The leak has also revealed enormous amounts of information about the development of past and futurePokémongames, including many details people are arguably putting too much stock into.
Typically, the development process of aPokémongame is a relatively well-kept secret. While leaks can and do happen regardless, the details that emerge this way are typically far from comprehensive accounts of any aspect of the new game. However, the latestPokémonleak is far more devastating. The data now available to the internet covers a large swathe of the gaming franchise’s history and future, includingleaked details about the upcoming Gen 10 setting. And although the full impact on future development is yet to be seen, the leak is already creating waves in the community.
Pokémon Leaks Of Past Games Have Some Shocking Details
The Unused Lore Includes Tales Of Assault And Murder Between Pokémon And Humans
It is easy to see how some details revealed in this leak have shocked manyPokémonfans. Although there are certainlyplenty of disturbing Pokédex entries, there is still a wide gap between the ominous lore of some Pokémon and the now-public stories written about some Pokémon by developers. In fact,the lore included in the leaked beta content can be very extreme, especially when consideringPokémon’s usually family-friendly image. However, that being said, it is also worth noting that these stories are structured more as myths than direct, factual accounts.
Of course,the concept of interspecies relations isn’t entirely foreign to the franchise.Pokémon Diamond and Pearlmade the basic concept a clear part of the canon with the myths recorded in Canalave Library, most notably Sinnoh Folk Story 3. However, it has now been revealed thatGame Freak has also produced more detailed accounts of Pokémon and humans becoming intimate, even non-consensually. For example, one such story describes a man’s multiple encounters with an Octillery, while another sees a Slaking force itself on a young woman.
Note: The localized English version of Sinnoh Folk Story 3, found in the book Sinnoh Folk Tales, describes Pokémon that “became very close to humans.” However, the original Japanese instead describes Pokémon and humans marrying.
These stories also carry strong themes of violence and death, repeatedly featuring Pokémon and humans brutally killing each other. As a result, it is hard not to see the Pokémon involved in a new light, and this new perspective is undeniably much harsher than many would consider appropriate forPokémon. However, it must also be kept in mind that these stories are only now becoming known because of the leak; they were not officially released.
This Lost Content Hasn’t Been Seen For A Reason
Game Freak Did Not Intend All Of It’s Beta Content To Be Canon
Ultimately, these shocking stories, as well as the myriad of unused Pokémon designs and other beta material now known to exist, were never meant to be seen by the general public. This could have been for many reasons; some concepts may have been deemed ill-conceived, and others merely superfluous. Meanwhile, some details, like an expanded version of the canonical creation story, may still influence the canon to some degree, but are still not acknowledged in-game. In any case, it cannot be denied thatnone of this content was chosen by Game Freak to become part of the finished product.
Zelda: Echoes Of Wisdom Proves What Pokémon Needs To Do Next
The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom takes the franchise in a cool direction, and it highlights a path forward for Pokémon games as well.
Video game development can be a long process, which naturally involves many different ideas being proposed and considered. However, by the same token, many of these ideas are ultimately discarded in the course of the development cycle. This leak has provided fans with a unique insight into the creation ofPokémongames, but at the same time, this cut content should not be conflated with what is present in the games themselves.
Pokémon Leaks From Past Games Won’t Impact Canon
The New Lore Is Non-Canon Without Being Used In An Official Release
Although theleak’s effect onPokémon Legends: Z-Aand other future games cannot be understated, past games should arguably remain unaffected by this leak. Although it is tempting to take the leaked information at face value,the fact that it was not used in these games means that this beta lore is not canon. As such, although it is certainly intriguing to see what might have been, this leak should not and cannot be treated with the same level of authority as an official release.
An immense amount of beta content was uncovered in this recent hack, and its distribution has understandably had an immense impact on thePokémoncommunity. However, none of the lore revealed this way can be considered canon, no matter how striking or interesting it may be, and it will remain that way unless a future official release makes use of it. It cannot be used to recontextualize pastPokémongames; the fact that they do not use this material means that it cannot be considered an official part of the franchise.
