Japanese man arrested after selling rare hacked Pokémon

For many Pokémon trainers, the thrill of the hunt lies in encountering and capturing rare Pokémon with the best stats. But for a 36-year-old man in Japan, that thrill took a turn for the illegal.

NHK News reported, that Japanese police arrested a 36-year-old man for illicitly modifying Pokémon Scarlet and Violet save data to create and sell rare Pokémon online.

This act falls under the purview of Japan's Unfair Competition Prevention Act, a regulation that carries a potential penalty of up to 5 years in prison or significant fines.

The man's scheme involved exploiting a software tool to manipulate the abilities of Pokémon within Pokémon Violet. This allowed him to create Pokémon with enhanced stats or desirable traits, making them significantly more valuable to collectors and competitive battlers.

Between December 2022 and March 2023, he capitalised on this scheme by selling these hacked Pokémon on a website dedicated to video game items and character transactions. The investigation revealed that some creations fetched high prices, with individual sales reaching 13,000 yen (roughly $90).

Japanese authorities stumbled upon this operation during a routine cyber patrol. They discovered evidence suggesting the man sold pre-made hacked Pokémon and also accepted custom orders. This included deals like "6 Pokémon for only $30," a price significantly lower than the time and effort required to legitimately acquire such Pokémon.

The suspect allegedly admitted to the charges, acknowledging that he resorted to this method as a way of making a living. Given that the investigation is still in progress, the police suspect the total amount of money from these illegal sales of millions of yen.

This incident raises several points for discussion. While the allure of obtaining powerful Pokémon quickly is undeniable, the use of hacked Pokémon disrupts the intended gameplay balance and devalues the achievements of legitimate trainers.

Furthermore, this case highlights the legal ramifications of safe data manipulation in certain countries. Japan's Unfair Competition Prevention Act clearly outlines the illegality of such actions, with potential consequences including imprisonment or hefty fines.

While some countries might not have explicit laws against selling hacked Pokémon, it's generally not encouraged by gaming companies and online platforms. The recent arrest serves as a stark reminder that shortcuts in the gaming world can have real-world repercussions.