Nintendo has reportedly suffered a significant legacy console leak

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Nintendo has reportedly suffered a significant leak of information related to its legacy consoles.

According to various sources archived on Resetera and Reddit, over 2 terabytes of data was allegedly leaked onto the anonymous forum 4chan over the weekend, including the original source code for Nintendo 64, GameCube and Wii.

The leaks also reportedly contain internal documentation related to GameCube, Nintendo DS, Nintendo 64 (and its 64DD add-on), Wii and the China-only iQue, showing how the systems work and the development processes behind them.

Test software for the Nintendo 64, including the ‘Mirror House Cornflakes’ demo featured in the video on this page, were also allegedly included in the leaked data.

Of more interest to gaming archivists will be the suggestion that the full leak could also contain early Spaceworld demos of many N64 titles, however, this data is seemingly yet to surface.

The data could, in theory, be used to create illegal clone hardware able to run software and operate exactly like the original systems.

The PC emulation community could also theoretically use the data to improve their software so that it imitates the original systems perfectly. However, since the leaked documentation has been illegally obtained this would put them in murky territory.

This week a fully functioning PC port of Super Mario 64 began circulating online, following a breakthrough last year when fans were able to decompile the game’s code. It’s not clear if the latest data leak had any influence on the port.

THE NINTENDO CONSOLE LEAK IS SAID TO INCLUDE:

N64, GameCube and Wii source code
Diagrams and datasheets for every system component
Documents describing feature planning and implementation
Full Wii operating system SDK
Planning docs for implementation of the Wii from 2004-2006
Spaceworld ’99 demos

The data is said to originate from a server hack related to BroadOn, a company Nintendo had contracted to develop Wii hardware and software.

Since 2018 various Pokémon data has been leaked online, including debug roms for Pokémon Blue, Yellow, Gold and Silver, alongside source code, Spaceworld ’99 demos and an internal GameBoy PC emulator.

The full significance of the latest breach will only likely become apparent as more data appears online. VGC has reached out to Nintendo for comment.

Posted: May 04, 2020 7:09 pm
Related Forum: Gaming Discussion

Source: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/nintendo-has-reportedly-suffered-a-significant-legacy-console-leak/

Comments

RyanPosted: Wed. Jun 03, 2020

A lot of leaks lately across the board, companies need to step up with protecting info!

RyanPosted: Wed. Jun 03, 2020

Int I mean the consoles are all dead so it doesn't even matter and will help the emulator modder community.

It does matter as It will most likely be an employee leaking the info... They take stuff like this super serious.

GaryPosted: Tue. May 05, 2020

322
Gary Documentation like this goes a very long way in the process of emulator development. The consoles are outdated and I doubt Nintendo will do anything since they love to squander IP. This is great news.

Nintendo is literally the opposite of that and they protect their IP very fiercely.

Ninja These people who are leaking are genuinely pissing everyone off. It's not even cool in the slightest..

Its completely fine and very helpful since these consoles are pretty much dead and this will help modders increase their lfiespan.

Mike GameCube source will be lit hopefully some remasters

No, you aren't going to get remasters from a leaked console source code and not from someone who isn't actual developer funded and with IP rights to produce it.

Clearly you don't know what squander means. Nintendo can protect their IP all they want but they are still wasting it. They have made no signs to put any of their N64 titles on new consoles like the switch. Hence the squandering.

OGTrey079Posted: Tue. May 05, 2020

Emulator devs gonna have a field day with this

DemonSurferPosted: Tue. May 05, 2020

old news already but hopefully something good comes from it

IntPosted: Tue. May 05, 2020

Gary Documentation like this goes a very long way in the process of emulator development. The consoles are outdated and I doubt Nintendo will do anything since they love to squander IP. This is great news.

That's what I'm saying man, it's technically a good thing now since all the consoles are dead, only people have them for collection/old games. I don't see any issue with this at all.

IntPosted: Tue. May 05, 2020

I mean the consoles are all dead so it doesn't even matter and will help the emulator modder community.

322Posted: Tue. May 05, 2020

Gary Documentation like this goes a very long way in the process of emulator development. The consoles are outdated and I doubt Nintendo will do anything since they love to squander IP. This is great news.

Nintendo is literally the opposite of that and they protect their IP very fiercely.

Ninja These people who are leaking are genuinely pissing everyone off. It's not even cool in the slightest..

Its completely fine and very helpful since these consoles are pretty much dead and this will help modders increase their lfiespan.

Mike GameCube source will be lit hopefully some remasters

No, you aren't going to get remasters from a leaked console source code and not from someone who isn't actual developer funded and with IP rights to produce it.

GaryPosted: Tue. May 05, 2020

Documentation like this goes a very long way in the process of emulator development. The consoles are outdated and I doubt Nintendo will do anything since they love to squander IP. This is great news.