A hacker is on trial in Japan for selling modified Pokémon game saves. He wanted to make money, but now he faces up to 5 years in prison.
What is this case about? On April 09, 2024, a 36-year-old man is said to have been arrested in Japan for modified save files for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet.
According to official police statements, as reported by NHK and translated by Automaton, he allegedly offered multiple game saves and rare Pokémon for sale online between December 2022 and March 2023.
Profits in the millions, thanks to hacked Pokémon?
He reportedly sold the game saves for up to 13,000 yen (approx. €85). The police then caught him online after he took individual orders and offered deals like “6 Pokémon for $30 (approx. €28)” through a website.
According to reports, the man has even confessed to his actions, stating that he simply wanted to earn a living. Investigations are still ongoing as the police suspect profits amounting to millions.
Why is he facing a penalty now? Hacking games and manipulating them for unfair advantages is legally prohibited in Japan. This clearly violates the Japanese Unfair Competition Prevention Act, and he can now be criminally prosecuted for it in court.
Modified Pokémon can pose a big problem in games like Pokémon Scarlet & Violet. Some can acquire so-called Shinies, which are very rare, much more easily through such “cheats”. Others argue that since Pokémon games are single-player games, cheats don’t matter anyway.
However, the fact is that this hacker has violated Japanese law with his businesses. He now faces either up to 5 years in prison or a fine of up to 5 million yen (approx. €30,500). In the worst case, he could face both penalties.
South Korea also has had similar laws for hackers for a few years: In Korea, hacks and private servers will soon be illegal – Up to 5 years in prison
