Developers from across the gaming industry have been commenting on the recent hack of Insomniac Games and the subsequent disclosure of private company data. It was rumored that in mid-December, Rhysida, a group known for breaking into hospitals and releasing patient records, launched a ransom attack against Insomniac. The group threatened to release a large amount of compromised data, including emails, employee information, and game footage, demanding a $2 million ransom from Insomniac.

A week after the ransomware demand, on December 19th, over a terabyte of confidential data was leaked online, revealing Insomniac's internal development plans for the next ten years. Among the leaked material was a list of the next five games that Insomniac planned to develop, along with estimated release dates. Additionally, there was news that the company had been hired by Playstation to essentially act as a Marvel game development studio until 2030.

This massive leak has garnered significant attention on social media, where users have shared their thoughts about the exposed data. Gaming journalists have also discussed the ethics of publishing the information, and video game developers have generally expressed their anger at the breach and support for Insomniac. Remedy Entertainment, the award-winning studio that created Alan Wake 2, called the leak "disgraceful and shameful" and sent their sympathies to the Insomniac staff. In a tweet, the business stated, "They didn't deserve this."

Given that many game developers have dealt with leaks in the past, they can empathize with the anxiety that the Insomniac staff is likely feeling right now. A similar breach occurred at Rockstar just two weeks before the Insomniac leak, when the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer leaked online, forcing the studio to formally release it one day early.

One of the more damaging effects of such leaks is that individuals unfamiliar with the game development process may evaluate the game in its incomplete state. This occurred in September 2022 with Grand Theft Auto 6 and is currently happening with Insomniac. The upcoming Wolverine game's cast was leaked, and pre-alpha footage has also surfaced online. While some have praised the two-minute clip for its potential, others have taken issue with the gameplay and graphics of an unfinished game.