An international ratings board accidentally leaked story spoilers for several upcoming games, including the James Bond title 007 First Light, which releases at the end of May. This story does not mention any of those leaked story details, so you can safely read on.
VGC reports that the Indonesian Game Rating System (IGRS) database somehow allowed people to see game footage submitted for ratings purposes that was never meant to be made public. More than one hour of footage from First Light was included in the leak, showing what looks like the game’s ending.
The leak also included footage from Bandai Namco’s July release Echoes of Aincrad, and again, some story details were included. If you’re especially keen on avoiding spoilers for either title, be sure to exercise caution in the weeks leading up to both games’ releases.
The leak also apparently covered Assassin’s Creed IV Black Flag’s upcoming remaster from Ubisoft, as well as Konami’s Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse. However, the leak did not include any footage.
The leak is bad news for developers beyond the fact that story details have come to light. The report said the leak also included “thousands” of email addresses for game developers.
Riot Games age ratings manager Nic McConnell addressed the situation online. He wrote that the IGRS asks developers to submit footage for their game to receive the appropriate rating, and that, at Riot, he shared footage via a private Google Drive link. McConell theorized, “It wouldn’t blow my mind if some links got opened more broadly somehow…” McConell added that the IGRS’s system is “very much a work in progress,” and he recommended that developers “only share the most relevant submission materials.”
McConnell also said he thinks the IGRS team is small and lacks resources. “My sense is it’s a small group of good folks doing their best,” he said.
First Light releases on May 27, but the Switch 2 version has been delayed. The game tells an origin story for James Bond, revealing how he became 007, with actor Patrick Gibson playing the lead role.