Recent investigations have uncovered that the leaks surrounding the PlayStation State of Play were orchestrated by a YouTube staffer in exchange for cash. We previously discussed a story regarding YouTube’s internal probe into the rampant game-related leaks occurring before the intended release of official trailers. New information uncovered in two subsequent reports suggests that this issue is more grave than initially perceived.
YouTube Staff and Contractors Implicated in PlayStation and Nintendo Information Leaks
An exposé by 404 Media disclosed that a Google contractor wielded their admin privileges to release details on Nintendo announcements well before they were publicly revealed. In response to this revelation, Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson — a known insider — shared that mere hours after Sony had scheduled the recent State of Play, he was approached by multiple individuals in possession of a complete inventory of featured games.
Henderson refrained from making the list public, but it was observed circulating on Twitter through a couple of reputed “insiders”. One source explicitly mentioned to Henderson that the leak of the State of Play lineup was monetized, fetching “a small three-figure sum.”
YouTube and its parent organization, Google, have been made aware of the data breaches, yet seem unable to effectively mitigate them. Due to YouTube’s need for processing time, companies cannot afford to upload game trailers at the eleventh hour. Additionally, this compounds with the inherent need to synchronize with marketing endeavors ahead of time.
The alarming takeaway from the recent reports is the unsettling fact that Google/YouTube contractors are also privy to sensitive information, and not solely full-time employees.
FAQs About the PlayStation and Nintendo Leaks
Q: Who leaked the PlayStation State of Play information?
A: According to reports, the leaks were facilitated by a YouTube employee or contractor who utilized their administrative access privileges.
Q: How was the leaked information obtained?
A: A list of games scheduled to appear in the PlayStation State of Play event was reportedly sold after Sony planned the event and before it was publicly streamed.
Q: Did Tom Henderson, the insider from Insider Gaming, publish the leaked list of PlayStation State of Play games?
A: No, Tom Henderson decided against publishing the leaked lineup although he was among those contacted with the information.
Q: Was there a financial transaction involved in the leak of the State of Play games list?
A: Yes, one individual claimed to have sold the list of State of Play games for a small amount, specifying a “small three-figure” sum.
Q: Are YouTube and Google taking measures to address these leaks?
A: The reports indicate that while the companies are aware of the ongoing data breaches, they have yet to implement effective preventative measures.