The 8 Worst Leaks That Ruined Games Before Release

Leaks have always been a part of the gaming industry. However, the prevalence of leaks has become much more frequent in recent years. There’s several reasons for this. Big titles generally have far more people working on them than ever before. It is not unusual for an AAA game to have hundreds or even thousands of people involved in development. Meanwhile, the internet allows leaks to be posted online anonymously and quickly spread across the world.

Unfortunately, this means that more and more titles are leaked long before their official release date. In some cases the leaks may just be a confirmation that a game is in the works. But at other times, the leaks can be far more damaging and ruin the experience for players completely.

There’s nothing worse than having a story twist or ending spoiled before you can play it. Yet, that’s exactly what happened with all of these leaks. Here are the worst leaks that ruined games before release.

The Last of Us Part II

The Last of Us Part II has been one of the most eagerly anticipated games of the last few years. Ever since the first game released in 2013, fans have wanted to see the conclusion to Ellie and Joel’s story. Following a delay to the game in the early parts of 2020, leaks began to emerge online. By April, practically every aspect of the game had been revealed online in a series of leaks. Important plot twists, new gameplay features, and the introduction of extra playable characters were posted in videos.

Half-Life 2

In October 2003, a German teenager hacked into Valve’s servers and stole the source code for the game Half-Life 2. The title had been due to be released that year but was delayed by 12 months. However, a year from launch, the source code was posted online, giving away details about much of the title’s action. Revelations about the plot as well as some of the settings were revealed, prompting Valve and the FBI to investigate the leak. Gabe Newell even appealed to the community to avoid sharing any spoilers or stolen copies of the game.