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Epic Games Sues Former Contractor Over Alleged Fortnite Leaks

Epic Games has filed a federal lawsuit against a former contractor accused of leaking confidential information related to upcoming Fortnite collaborations. The case centers on allegations that the contractor disclosed sensitive details on social media and Discord shortly after gaining access to internal information.

According to the filing, the leaks disrupted Epic’s marketing plans and damaged relationships with several partner companies tied to future Fortnite crossover events.


Alleged Insider Identified

The lawsuit names a former contractor identified as Hayden Cohen, who reportedly operated online under the aliases AdiraFN and AdiraFNInfo.

Epic claims Cohen worked as an associate producer through a third-party staffing agency and had access to confidential project information while assisting with internal production tasks. As part of that role, Cohen completed Epic’s security training and signed a non-disclosure agreement on September 11, 2025.

The company alleges that within weeks of signing the agreement, confidential information began appearing online through the same accounts tied to Cohen.


Specific Leaks Mentioned in the Lawsuit

Epic’s complaint highlights several posts that allegedly revealed upcoming Fortnite collaborations before the company intended to announce them.

One of the most notable examples occurred on January 6, when a post reportedly disclosed a crossover with South Park. The collaboration was officially announced just two days later, which Epic claims strongly suggests the information came from someone with internal access.

The filing also references alleged spoilers involving Solo Leveling and several other unconfirmed collaborations.

While not officially announced, the lawsuit mentions rumored partnerships that appeared in leaks, including potential crossovers involving:

  • Ben 10
  • Game of Thrones
  • Kingdom Hearts
  • Masters of the Universe
  • Minecraft
  • PEAK
  • Sonic the Hedgehog

Epic argues that these disclosures undermined carefully planned reveal schedules and created complications with partner companies involved in the collaborations.


Claims of Breach and Trade Secret Violations

The legal complaint accuses Cohen of multiple violations, including trade secret misappropriation under both federal law and North Carolina law.

Epic also claims the alleged actions violated the non-disclosure agreement and constituted unfair competition. According to the company, the leaks involved confidential project details that were not meant to be public and were protected under internal security policies.

The lawsuit further states that Epic previously issued a cease-and-desist order demanding that the leaks stop and that any devices used to access company information be surrendered. Epic claims the contractor did not fully comply with those demands.


Damages and Court Requests

Epic is seeking financial damages under the Defend Trade Secrets Act as well as reimbursement of legal fees associated with the case.

In addition to monetary compensation, the company is asking the court to issue an injunction that would permanently block the former contractor from disclosing any additional confidential information related to Fortnite or Epic’s business operations.

Such injunctions are common in cases involving trade secrets or internal corporate data.


A Rare Legal Move in the Fortnite Leak Scene

Leaks surrounding Fortnite are nothing new. The game has long been the subject of constant rumors, data-mining discoveries, and early reveals by well-known leakers within the community.

Many of those leaks originate from game files discovered after updates or from individuals speculating about future content.

However, Epic’s lawsuit suggests the company views insider leaks differently from typical community data-mining. If the allegations prove accurate, the case could mark one of the more aggressive legal actions taken against a Fortnite leaker accused of using direct internal access.

The outcome may also serve as a warning to others who gain early access to sensitive information through professional roles tied to the game.


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