Nintendo struggles to contain massive Smash Bros. Ultimate leaks

Vena · Nov 26, 2018

hemo memo said:
They don't do that already?

They do (all carts are marked and identifiable), but that can be stripped. I meant *more* watermarking. Like watermarking built directly into the NCA that cannot be removed.

These leaks make me think this is definitely something they will start doing.

Deleted member 24907 · Nov 26, 2018

808s & Villainy said:
I don't think you understand that saying there's nothing more is no different than someone accidentally being shown leaked content and seeing there's nothing more. I don't want to know PERIOD. And it's annoying when people don't get that. If we have already seen everything, I'd rather find that out myself

So the lack of spoilers is in and of itself a spoiler? I really don't follow how you can be upset at people "leaking" the fact that we already know everything.

Strat · Nov 26, 2018

I don't get what people find difficult about the reactions to this? It's not about piracy, though there is some of that. It's not about spoilers, though there is some of that as well. It's about pirates, almost unanimously seen as people who "suck" or don't actually care about Smash, getting to play the full game weeks earlier than the majority of people.

That's why people are taking such hardline stances here. They're jealous and they're impatient and they're ready to be angry about it.

Deleted member 4093 · Nov 26, 2018

hemo memo said:
They don't do that already?

The question is probably "who does this?"

As far as I know any review copies are just early games.

808s & Villainy · Nov 26, 2018

Eatin' Olives said:
So the lack of spoilers is in and of itself a spoiler? I really don't follow how you can be upset at people "leaking" the fact that we already know everything.

Saying "I looked at spoilers and they revealed nothing new" is still revealing...

MisterHero · Nov 26, 2018

Caspah said:
Is it just because it's Smash? Games leak all the time and it doesn't turn ERA on it's head and people don't cry that it's disrespectful for the developer.

"Games leak all the time"

Maybe it shouldn't be am everyday thing. I hope the "reviewer" who leaked it gets found out.

They will make things worse for all reviewers and I don't blame the publisher. Maybe Nintendo will have to do some work, like rethink how they distribute future games and which reviewers to trust. That's on them. But they are allowed to (and should) put the hammer down on the leakers.

NoKisum · Nov 26, 2018

This makes me wonder if, come time for Smash 6, Nintendo should just spoil the whole game themselves so "content creators" can't reap on their benefits. Besides, everyone wants to know everything about the game before it comes out, so win-win.

saladdays · Nov 26, 2018

thonerayman said:
OK I kind of get this. But I don't see this outrage (or level of interest ) when other games get leaked. As a follow up. I'm on this site... Many many hours a day and if I hadn't gone into the spoiler thread I never would have had anything spoiled.

Sakurai is very public and honest with his fanbase, goes above and beyond to make every game better than the last, and has expressed disappointment at his games being leaked in the past. That is why people get upset when things leak for it.

Deleted member 24907 · Nov 26, 2018

808s & Villainy said:
Saying "I looked at spoilers and they revealed nothing new" is still revealing...

What is that spoiling for you, though? The disappointment that there's nothing new once you boot up the game and find out there's no additional surprises?

Deleted member 33533 · Nov 26, 2018

Remember when Sakurai stated the reason Smash 4 didn't have a story mode was because all the Subspace Emissary cutscenes were uploaded onto the internet and ruined the experience.

I think many saw it as silly, as did I, but I think this is probably what he meant. Doubt he's happy about it.

Melpontro · Nov 26, 2018

Kyuur said:
I'm fairly sure this has less to do with spoilers and more to with widespread piracy.

Speaking anecdotally, every single person I personally know who has played the leak also has the game pre-ordered. Can't imagine the point of pirating a game like Smash when you will miss out on all the online features.

Hell, one of them bought an extra Switch just to make sure his main one doesn't get banned when the game is officially out.

Jahranimo · Nov 26, 2018

I wonder if someone in one of th distribution centers just snuck one and led to all of this. Does anyone know if retailers have the games there yet?

Deleted member 8674 · Nov 26, 2018

Ehoavash said:
It's not just leaks, it's also about piracy. It got released early, someone dumped the rom online, Lots of people pirated the game, some even streamed it on youtube revealing various things like new undiscovered boss battles, the cutscenes in the games adventure mode, more adventure mode bosses, the games ending, and now the game is already being modded in the pirate community.

This game being such a massive release and being "leaked" early and being pirated should is no joke

I get the piracy side but people acting like someone is going to knock on their door to show them the leaks.

KalEl814 · Nov 26, 2018

JakeNoseIt said:
I have a lot of sympathy for the artists involved in Smash Ultimate that are particularly proud of their work. As a creator, stuff like this always feels wrong, or like a cheat. They didn't make the game to be consumed this way or at this time. It's a bummer, and kinda spitting in the face of the people that make the thing you claim to love so much.

Edit: I'm genuinely curious why so many people feel the need to defend the pirates. It's weird.

I don't have any interest in defending pirates. That said it's 2018 and once a game like this has been shipped it's going to be busted wide open. If Sakurai's expectation is that this wouldn't happen, he's not not thinking rationally.

Deleted member 4093 · Nov 26, 2018

NoKisum said:
This makes me wonder if, come time for Smash 6, Nintendo should just spoil the whole game themselves so "content creators" can't reap on their benefits. Besides, everyone wants to know everything about the game before it comes out, so win-win.

At the point it well be:

"Why are Nintendo spoiling the whole fucking game!"

These are the same people that, "Avoid Spoilers"

Vena · Nov 26, 2018

Also watermarking or not doesn't really matter for this case, the leaker got himself doxxed by the very people he leaked it to.

switchscene.jpeg

Jahranimo · Nov 26, 2018

Sorry double post

NoKisum · Nov 26, 2018

MELLO said:
At the point it well be:

"Why are Nintendo spoiling the whole fucking game!"

These are the same people that, "Avoid Spoilers"

But at least YouTubers won't be monetizing on Smash before the game is even out.

Heromanz · Nov 26, 2018

SuperiorTrashTalk said:
Remember when Sakurai stated the reason Smash 4 didn't have a story mode was because all the Subspace Emissary cutscenes were uploaded onto the internet and ruined the experience.

I think many saw it as silly, as did I, but I think this is probably what he meant. Doubt he's happy about it.

I mean it didn't ruin the experience though.

Continental 0p · Nov 26, 2018

I really don't see how the leaks would affect sales at all. The only stuff left to be leaked was inconsequential to the meat and potatoes of the game, and the pirates who don't buy the game were almost certainly going to pirate it instead of purchasing anyway. Obviously piracy is bad, and while I think we showed to much support in terms of watching pirated streams, I think there's a huge difference between downloading the data to examine it and actually pirating the game.

Deleted member 8674 · Nov 26, 2018

MELLO said:
The question is probably "who does this?"

As far as I know any review copies are just early games.

How can they trace the leak then?

Durden · Nov 26, 2018

hemo memo said:
Why people acting like this is The Last of Us or Death Stranding? This is fucking Smash. Nintendo already showed most of it in the direct.

Why are people being so needlessly aggressive in what they consider is spoiler territory or not? I'm usually 120% a-ok with fighting game "spoilers", but with Ultimate I really want to see the WoL first hand, along with some other things. Some people just want to experience things for themselves, especially with a game as massive as Smash. I'm sure there are possibly upwards of millions of people nowhere close to these boards that don't even really know the full roster. I don't understand how it's so hard to understand people digest/like to digest things differently.

BashNasty · Nov 26, 2018

I'm not sure why people are calling these leaks a slap in the face to the team. People are super excited about the new Smash Brothers, naturally that means people want to know as much as they can about it as a way of fueling their excitement before they get the game. If anything, these leaks show just how thrilled people are to be so close to a new Smash Brothers.

It's a fighting game too, so it's not like you can really spoil the game in the same way as something like, say, Last of Us 2.

Maxina · Nov 26, 2018

Continental 0p said:
I really don't see how the leaks would affect sales at all. The only stuff left to be leaked was inconsequential to the meat and potatoes of the game, and the pirates who don't buy the game were almost certainly going to pirate it instead of purchasing anyway. Obviously piracy is bad, and while I think we showed to much support in terms of watching pirated streams, I think there's a huge difference between downloading the data to examine it and actually pirating the game.

The real problem is how Nintendo has no clear way of controlling game leaks like this. If a game like RDR2 got leaked 2 weeks early, Rockstar would have also shit itself, but luckily for them, the Xbox/PS4 homebrew/piracy scene isn't as rampant as it is on Nintendo systems. I feel bad for Sakurai. Once again his work to keep leaks under wraps is squandered because of impatient manchildren.

Deleted member 4093 · Nov 26, 2018

hemo memo said:
How can they trace the leak then?

They can just start an investigation

Deleted member 8791 · Nov 26, 2018

Vena said:
Also watermarking or not doesn't really matter for this case, the leaker got himself doxxed by the very people he leaked it to.

switchscene.jpeg

Any reason why the Switch hacking scene seems to be worse than these scenes usually are? Don't remember so much internal drama in these groups back in the day.

jviggy43 · Nov 26, 2018

Secretofmateria said:
Good job to everyone who couldnt show one iota of respect to sakurai or anyone on that team, and good job to everyone who is going to wonder why the next smash is lacking cut scenes, and an adventure mode, and the pleathura of other youtube baity things because some fuckers couldnt contain themselves in order to get views. Good job shitting it up for everyone.

I cant believe this is a real post.

BlackJace · Nov 26, 2018

jviggy43 said:
I cant believe this is a real post.

Sakurai has literally said this is why we won't see another SSE epic again.

Deleted member 33533 · Nov 26, 2018

Heromanz said:
I mean it didn't ruin the experience though.

Not for me, no. I'm just wondering how Sakurai feels about it.

Deleted member 8674 · Nov 26, 2018

Durden said:
Why are people being so needlessly aggressive in what they consider is spoiler territory or not? I'm usually 120% a-ok with fighting game "spoilers", but with Ultimate I really want to see the WoL first hand, along with some other things. Some people just want to experience things for themselves, especially with a game as massive as Smash. I'm sure there are possibly upwards of millions of people nowhere close to these boards that don't even really know the full roster. I don't understand how it's so hard to understand people digest/like to digest things differently.

You will experience it for yourself. This is not something that can be easily spoiled. This is not a story twist a troll can post.

Deleted member 2793 · Nov 26, 2018

Strat said:
I don't get what people find difficult about the reactions to this? It's not about piracy, though there is some of that. It's not about spoilers, though there is some of that as well. It's about pirates, almost unanimously seen as people who "suck" or don't actually care about Smash, getting to play the full game weeks earlier than the majority of people.

That's why people are taking such hardline stances here. They're jealous and they're impatient and they're ready to be angry about it.

That's different tho. I wish I could play it, but I don't feel like the spoilers/datamine stuff are "out of control" or anything like that.

Ex-Psych · Nov 26, 2018

Man Sakurai must feel pretty vindicated right now.

Eatin' Olives said:
What is that spoiling for you, though? The disappointment that there's nothing new once you boot up the game and find out there's no additional surprises?

I think the idea is that people value things differently and their opinions can be subjective.

What they saw might not be impressive to them but could be for someone else.

Having other people implanting their opinion on you first while you not getting the chance to try probably isn't great for some.

Deleted member 4093 · Nov 26, 2018

hemo memo said:
You will experience it for yourself. This is not something that can be easily spoiled. This is not a story twist a troll can post.

A game dont only have to have a story to be spoiled lol. Its a game not a movie like a bunch games strive to be

Vena · Nov 26, 2018

Chauzu said:
Any reason why the Switch hacking scene seems to be worse than these scenes usually are? Don't remember so much internal drama in these groups back in the day.

No idea. It's easily the most toxic scene I have ever seen or taken part in. Chasing away major players, doxxing each other, releasing brick code. There's also "console wars" between the CFWs available.

It's all fucked.

Demon Lizardman · Nov 26, 2018

Sucks, but it's not that big of a deal, this is the reason they revealed everyone upfront.

Deleted member 4093 · Nov 26, 2018

Demon Lizardman said:
Sucks, but it's not that big of a deal, this is the reason they revealed everyone upfront.

yep.. lol

Deleted member 6730 · Nov 26, 2018

There's nothing about this game to spoil. All the characters and stages have been revealed which is the most important. Maybe World of Light? Like that mode seems straight forward enough I doubt there's anything worth spoiling about that.

Spinluck · Nov 26, 2018

Kouriozan said:
That's sad and will probably cost Nintendo money over this. Why can't people respect the work behind this and stop braging/openly streaming pirated copy online.

Yeah, the leaks and exploitation suck.

But don't get it twisted, this game is gonna sell like crazy and Nintendo will be eating good on the game and dlc for years to come.

Skittzo · Nov 26, 2018

Imagine if this happened with Kid Icarus Uprising. Reviewers can be trusted to keep giant secrets like the one in that game, if they all worked hard to keep that secret only for it to be leaked online weeks before launch that would be such a major pain in the ass to them and to the fanbase.

And that's a Sakurai game too. What if there's a similar twist in the story mode for this game? (I haven't looked at spoilers so please don't tell me if there is)

Pai Pai Master · Nov 26, 2018

I'm really curious about this because when Crunchii's channel got blown up, someone in the thread said "they didn't do anything wrong."

They still uploaded and distributed content from an unreleased game that had been leaked by pirates. That's pretty much piracy in my eyes, but I understand why people will downplay it because they want to hear all the great remixes he was posting - and game music usually ends up on YouTube anyways so it doesn't seem like a big deal. Music isn't a "spoiler" so leaking it is OK?

From Nintendo's perspective what was done is obviously wrong. It seems most of us here are pretty split on whether the action Nintendo took was warranted.

Tavernade · Nov 26, 2018

Strat said:
I don't get what people find difficult about the reactions to this? It's not about piracy, though there is some of that. It's not about spoilers, though there is some of that as well. It's about pirates, almost unanimously seen as people who "suck" or don't actually care about Smash, getting to play the full game weeks earlier than the majority of people.

That's why people are taking such hardline stances here. They're jealous and they're impatient and they're ready to be angry about it.

This is total BS. People don't get angry at criminals because they're jealous. I'm not jealous that someone besides me stole my neighbor's tv, I'm pissed that some asshole stole their tv.

BashNasty said:
I'm not sure why people are calling these leaks a slap in the face to the team. People are super excited about the new Smash Brothers, naturally that means people want to know as much as they can about it as a way of fueling their excitement before they get the game. If anything, these leaks show just how thrilled people are to be so close to a new Smash Brothers.

It's a fighting game too, so it's not like you can really spoil the game in the same way as something like, say, Last of Us 2.

The leaks show a lack of respect to the people that made it in the first place, the piracy effects those people's bottom line, and the entitlement would make me question why I'd even bother putting the effort in in the first place.

I genuinely do not understand how people are bending themselves backwards to place blame on literally everyone EXCEPT for the people that actually committed a crime.

What Nintendo could and should do is work with YouTube and other providers to alter their TOS so leaks like this would permaban users who take part in it, while continuing to press charges against the people providing the pirated copies. They should also utilise the rumoured Switch revision to undo whatever loopholes the hacker scene has been taking advantage of.

Deleted member 6730 · Nov 26, 2018

No one is going to remember or care that the game got leaked in a month.

Deleted member 8674 · Nov 26, 2018

MELLO said:
A game dont only have to have a story to be spoiled lol. Its a game not a movie like a bunch games strive to be

It's not something you can accidentally spoil for yourself.

TimeFire · Nov 26, 2018

Vena said:
Also watermarking or not doesn't really matter for this case, the leaker got himself doxxed by the very people he leaked it to.

switchscene.jpeg

Goddamn lol
Was the 3DS scene this juvenile too?

MisterHero · Nov 26, 2018

Pai Pai Master said:
I'm really curious about this because when Crunchii's channel got blown up, someone in the thread said "they didn't do anything wrong."

They still uploaded and distributed content from an unreleased game that had been leaked by pirates. That's pretty much piracy in my eyes, but I understand why people will downplay it because they want to hear all the great remixes he was posting - and game music usually ends up on YouTube anyways so it doesn't seem like a big deal. Music isn't a "spoiler" so leaking it is OK?

From Nintendo's perspective what was done is obviously wrong. It seems most of us here are pretty split on whether the action Nintendo took was warranted.

The YouTuber can keep their viewcounts, they shouldn't be able to monetize them though.

Kyuuji · Nov 26, 2018

LordKano said:
- piracy on switch is concerning an incredibly small minority that gets smaller and smaller as nintendo is securizing more their console with each new update
- this will not affect sales in any way
- people should chill the fuck out with the so few things there are left to spoil
- a leak as big as this one will not reoccur again with future switch games despite what fear mongers want you to believe
- this is ultimately the fault of only one reviewer that will probably get nuked from earth

How come?

jviggy43 · Nov 26, 2018

BlackJace said:
Sakurai has literally said this is why we won't see another SSE epic again.

It just keeps getting better. Fucking Nintendo lol. Might as well stop making video game consoles while theyre at it.

Deleted member 4093 · Nov 26, 2018

hemo memo said:
It's not something you can accidentally spoil for yourself.

It can be spoiled bottom line. Yall need to stop holding your own standards to everyone elses. Life dont work like that

Deleted member 2791 · Nov 26, 2018

Kyuuji said:
How come?

Basically what'll happen is what happened in NoE a few years ago: they'll be a lot stricter with who get early reviews and when do they get it.

thonerayman · Nov 26, 2018

saladdays said:
Sakurai is very public and honest with his fanbase, goes above and beyond to make every game better than the last, and has expressed disappointment at his games being leaked in the past. That is why people get upset when things leak for it.

Now this is at least a legit answer. If Sakurai has said that in the past (and I have no reason not to believe you so I shall), then I can see a level of disappointment. That being said, disappointment is one thing. Outrage like someone just spoiled the end of the last Game of Thrones season before it even came out (Which I've never watched but people complain about spoilers so it seems like an apt comparison) feels way over blown.

Also i don't condone piracy, IF the leaker is someone who pirated the game to get the info then they should be punished. NOT for the leak, but for the hacking. Nintendo has done an amazing job with the Switch thus far and I want to see it grow.

Nintendo struggles to contain massive Smash Bros. Ultimate leaks

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