Highlights
- Unsubstantiated leaks in the video game industry can create excitement and speculation, even if they turn out to be fake.
- The Nintendo NX controller leak caused chaos and speculation among fans, but was ultimately proven to be false.
- Fans eagerly anticipated a possible enhanced edition of Pokemon Sun and Moon, called Pokemon Stars, but it never came to fruition and was debunked by the release of Pokemon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon.
When it comes to the video game leaking scene, nothing seems to be limited by the real world. Budgets, time, and resources are infinite in the land of leaks. Whether it's a sequel to a cult classic game or a remake of a childhood favorite, there's nothing that can't be brought to life with a burner account and a post on a message board. But, like the best things out there, most of the time it's too good to be true.
That is precisely what makes some leaks so amusing, as a few of them veer off the beaten path from wish lists into the full-blown bizarre. Sometimes, it seems like a leaker has no intention of telling players when a remake of that 90s JRPG they love is coming, but rather to spin a yarn that is so strange, maybe it has to be true. Except that it wasn't.
6 Nintendo NX Controller Confounds Reddit
The internet was hopelessly obsessed with the Nintendo NX, the codename for what would become the Switch, in 2016. Entire subreddits were devoted to any possible shred of news about Nintendo's next console, which is where a post claiming to showcase the controller for the hardware originated.
What looks like a cross between a PSP and the football-shaped head of the lead character from Hey Arnold!, the fake NX controller caused a bit of chaos in the communities that dissected it. Though it turned out to be a fake, the NX controller leak was just one part of what made the lead-up to the Nintendo Switch so much fun.
5 The Grinch Leak Showcases The Ultimate Roster
Speculation about who Nintendo will be adding to Super Smash Bros. never seems to fade. Even as the company moves on to other projects, rumors and fake leaks about XYZ character coming to Super Smash Bros. take up a lot of internet real estate. This thirst for more led to one of the strangest leaks players have ever seen, showing surprising participation from franchises like Banjo-Kazooie.
Cut to October 2018, when an image of a supposed roster for the next iteration appeared on 4chan. Though it was debunked as fake, its surreal and offbeat presentation captivated the community and led many to believe it was real. Interestingly, a few of the characters from the leak did make it into the final game, including Banjo-Kazooie.
4 Death Stranding Lets You Fight Mads Mikkelsen On The Moon
It's safe to say that Hideo Kojima's mind-melting masterpiece known as Death Stranding was the subject of a fair amount of speculation and rumors. From leaks about which actors will appear in the game to just how this bizarre story will come together, Death Stranding had a stranglehold on the internet prior to launch.
Just before the game was released, an oddly fascinating screenshot from a user claiming to have played the game began to appear across various forums. Showcasing the Kojima Productions mascot, known as Ludens, in battle with Mads Mikkelsen on the moon, this tantalizing fake was something to behold.
3 Pokemon Stars Is An Enhanced Edition Of Pokemon Sun And Moon
The Pokemon Company is no stranger to releasing enhanced, updated versions of games. Dating all the way back to Pokemon Yellow, the monster-taming franchise has traditionally always released a third version of whatever generation is current. This pattern of behavior led to rampant rumors about a third version of Pokemon Sun and Pokemon Moon, known as Pokemon Stars.
The upgraded edition of the last 3DS game in the series was supposedly in development for the Switch, with plans for 720p resolution and enhanced character models. Through dubious online listings and whispers in magazines, the hope for it to be released finally faded when Pokemon Ultra Sun and Pokemon Ultra Moon launched for the Nintendo 3DS.
2 Star Fox Grand Prix Combines Mario Kart And F-Zero
None of Nintendo's flagship franchises are immune to leaks and rumors of imminent comebacks and redemption tours, which is exactly what happened in 2018 when reports of a racing game set in the Star Fox universe surfaced. This intoxicating concept of combining elements from F-Zero and Mario Kart was enough to get the Nintendo faithful whipped up into a frenzy.
Between rumors of a fake leak put out by Nintendo and that it became Starlink: Battle For Atlas, the reality was that the rumor preyed upon a fanbase that has been longing for a new adventure with Fox McCloud and the gang. While it's become clear that Star Fox Grand Prix never existed, the fascination with it hasn't ever seemed to fade.
1 Velvet Veil Is FromSoftware's Spiritual Successor To Bloodborne
It wouldn't be entirely shocking to see a FromSoftware game leak, as they often do. Bloodborne was first leaked as Project Beast and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice was accurately described via a 4chan post, which added an extra bit of credibility to the existence of this leak. Described as a spiritual successor to Bloodborne, the game was titled Velvet Veil and it was also a PlayStation 5 exclusive.
But, like so many of FromSoftware's games, players need to look a bit deeper to find the truth. Supposed concept art was debunked as either AI-generated or lifted from DeviantArt accounts. Velvet Veil sounds enticing and the title even rings like a FromSoft name, but this work of fiction will remain forever an online urban legend.