Welcome to Game On newsletter by Jason Schreier. Today, we dive into the world of video-game leaks with insights from Don McGowan, former general counsel at Bungie and The Pokémon Company.
Top Gaming News
- Xbox Game Pass price hike
- Shift Up Corp. goes public in South Korea
Plugging the Leaks
Insights from Don McGowan
McGowan has extensive experience tracking down leaks, whether it's upcoming content for games like Destiny 2 or workplace misconduct. He shared how internal team syncs and community monitoring often revealed leaks. Employees leaking info for clout within their clans were a common issue, tracked via server logs and user identities.
Process and Ethics
McGowan emphasized the distinction between content leaks and serious workplace issues, stressing a non-retaliatory approach for the latter. Leaks often resulted in internal investigations and sometimes, job terminations.
Wildest Leak Story
At Pokémon, McGowan once traced a leak to a young hacker. A conversation with the child’s mother highlighted the ethical considerations in handling such cases.
Tracking Leaks
Bungie, being fully remote, relied heavily on Confluence logs and other digital footprints to identify leakers. The process involved authenticating the leak and narrowing down suspects through access logs.
Consequences
Leakers often faced bans from the game and future content opportunities. In one notable case, a streamer leaked content for clout, only to be banned after a detailed investigation.
Personal Thoughts
McGowan noted that while content leaks were frustrating, the priority was always to maintain the integrity and trust within the organization.
Weekend Game Recommendation
Final Fantasy XIV: Dive into this MMORPG with its new Dawntrail expansion for an engaging and delightful gaming experience.
Stay informed with more from Bloomberg:
- Tech Daily
- Cyber Bulletin
- Power On
- Screentime
- Soundbite
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