8 Video Game Leaks That Changed EVERYTHING
These leaks made a huge impact, for better or worse.
Leak culture is a strange and fascinating beast in video games, and considering the many hundreds of people that work on any given AAA game, it's sometimes surprising that more stuff doesn't end up leaking out.
And while leaks can help drum up excitement, there's also no denying the damage that a leak can cause, both in terms of showcasing unpolished footage of a game and derailing the publisher's carefully planned marketing campaign.
While most leaks ultimately don't have a significant impact on a game's eventual release and reception, there certainly are exceptions, and few that were more tectonic than this lot.
These eight video game leaks caused quite the furore when they hit the web, perhaps making the fanbase freak out en masse and prompting the developer to change course accordingly.
Elsewhere the leak might've tainted the discourse surrounding the game ever since, or in a positive example, it actually turned the tide of public perception in a more favourable direction, enough that it was even partially responsible for the game's success.
For better or worse, then, these gaming leaks changed everything...
8. Splinter Cell: Conviction
In September 2006, promotional materials for a new Splinter Cell game, eventually revealed to be Splinter Cell: Conviction, were leaked online.
These images showed protagonist Sam Fisher with long hair and a scraggly beard, implied a greater emphasis on action over stealth, and would also incorporate gameplay mechanics from Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed franchise, such as the ability to blend in with a crowd.
The immediate fan response was not good, to be kind, and when Conviction was formally unveiled in May 2007, it confirmed the leaks to be totally legitimate, only further fuelling an already irate fanbase.
The sustained negativity seemingly led Ubisoft to delay Conviction from its November 16, 2007 release date, with reports suggesting they "went back to the drawing board."
When we saw Conviction again at E3 2009, Sam looked more like his usual self and the game resembled a far more traditional Splinter Cell sequel, much to fans' delight.
It ultimately released to positive reviews, but had Ubisoft ignored the furore from that original leak onwards, their more casual-skewing iteration of the game could've very well flopped and killed the franchise.