Bungie says it has ‘irrefutable proof’ in opposition to Future 2 streamer accused of leaking confidential content material

Bungie says it has “irrefutable proof” {that a} well-known streamer accused of leaking content material from a latest Future 2 Neighborhood Summit is in truth responsible of a number of leaks of confidential info over a interval spanning a number of years. The streamer in query, nonetheless, is steadfastly sustaining his innocence, and has vowed to clear his identify.

Bungie first addressed the leak of pictures and different info from the latest on-line presentation in a quick assertion posted to Twitter on April 14. 

“Neighborhood interplay and engagement is central to Bungie and our video games,” the studio tweeted. “For years, we have invited creators and different members of the group to confidential summits to offer suggestions on the way forward for Future. It is a beloved a part of the method, however depends closely on belief.

“Breaches of this belief might lead to our lack of ability to carry extra summits. We take these breaches extraordinarily severely and are taking actions to bolster our insurance policies with these invited to those inner conferences.”

Bungie did not identify the streamer, and nonetheless hasn’t, however Ekuegan, a preferred streamer and YouTuber well-known for clearing greater than 6,000 Grandmaster Nightfalls—Future 2’s most troublesome PvE content material, principally—stated it was him, first by denying the declare on Twitter (opens in new tab) after which confirming with Forbes (opens in new tab) that he was the one accused. 

The preliminary proof in opposition to Ekuegan was contained within the leaked photographs, which contained info together with plans for future seasons of Future 2, new gear, steadiness modifications, story beats, and extra. The photographs in query had been truly pictures of somebody’s PC, taken whereas the presentation was working; desktop icons seen within the {photograph} had been equivalent to these on Ekuegan’s desktop. Because of the alleged leak, Ekuegan has been banned from Future 2—a surprising and, for a lot of followers, disappointing end result for a popular streamer with 48,000 subscribers on YouTube and practically 100,000 followers on Twitch.

Ekuegan didn’t appear inclined to quietly take the L and transfer on along with his life instantly following the ban. “All I do know is, that firm made an enormous mistake and I’ll clear my identify,” he tweeted (opens in new tab) on April 17. “I’m engaged on it, Don’t be concerned < I see the actual ones on the tags. My head is held excessive, I had a nature day as we speak and man getting off the web felt nice.”

In subsequent tweets of its personal, nonetheless, Bungie stated it has little question about Ekuegan’s guilt, and worse, revealed that this was not an remoted incident.

“Our Safety and Authorized groups have reviewed irrefutable proof, together with video recordings, verified messages, and pictures demonstrating a sample over time that verify the identical particular person shared confidential info from Neighborhood Summits spanning a number of years,” Bungie tweeted.

“We’re very dissatisfied to have discovered this info and need that issues had gone in a different way with this individual. We don’t take these actions frivolously, and we’re assured in our determination. That is our ultimate communication on the matter.”

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Ekuegan has been silent since Bungie’s “ultimate communication,” however he did elevate some legitimate questions previous to that time, together with the obvious: Why would he do one thing so silly? ‘Clout’ is the plain reply however as a preferred Future 2 streamer that was just about his stock-in-trade anyway. “I am in so many NDAs [at the moment], why would I breach any? it is a part of the job,” he instructed Forbes. “I spent 14,000 hours on this sport, a number of hours serving to folks in Grandmasters.”

And as he stated on Twitter, if he was going to leak info from the Neighborhood Summit presentation, why would he take pictures of his display after which submit them unedited? Not solely is it a weird manner for a technologically savvy streamer to share screenshots, it is also an apparent giveaway: “I present my desktop day by day whereas stay for 10-12 hours day by day,” he tweeted (opens in new tab).

Truthful factors, however except Ekuegan can give you some type of compelling proof that he is been wrongly accused, this would be the finish of it. And that does not appear probably: Bungie’s invocation of its safety and authorized groups in its public assertion fairly clearly signifies that it has much more to go on than only a handful of photographs. I’ve reached out to Bungie and Ekuegan for remark, and can replace if I obtain a reply.