*007 Makes Its Debut* Leak Spreads — Has the Ratings Agency Caused Trouble Again?

Over the years, watching leaks in the gaming world has always left me with mixed feelings. Back when I followed new domestic wuxia titles, what I feared most wasn’t delays, but having the plot and key scenes spoiled before the game had even officially appeared. It felt like finally waiting for the hero to make an entrance, only for someone to spoil the final sword strike first. And now, this same frustrating mess has fallen on another batch of unreleased games.

This time, the problem came from Indonesia’s ratings agency IGRS. Based on the information currently available, IGRS accidentally leaked content related to multiple games that had not yet been announced or officially released due to a work error on its official website. Titles already found to be affected include 007 First Light and Aincrad Echoing New Voice, and it goes far beyond just the names being exposed—some gameplay footage and story videos have already spread online.

VGC confirmed that a full hour of gameplay footage from 007 First Light has begun circulating, and it even includes what appears to be ending content. On the other side, what leaked from Aincrad Echoing New Voice were cutscenes from key story moments. Speaking of the games themselves, this kind of leak is especially damaging to narrative-driven titles. Players are supposed to build anticipation gradually through showcases, trailers, and the actual play experience, but now that rhythm has been disrupted in advance, and both promotional plans and launch-day surprises could end up completely shattered.

Even more surprising, Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag Remake and Konami’s Castlevania: Belmont's Curse also appeared in this leak list. As of publication, related footage from these two titles does not yet seem to have spread widely online, but now that their names are already out there, the pressure from public discussion and confidentiality concerns will only continue to rise. For publishers, this kind of forced exposure hurts the most—not because it lacks attention, but because it throws the entire rollout into chaos.

Beyond nostalgia, this incident has also made people look again at the risks inherent in the ratings process itself. Industry insider Nic McConnell pointed out that developers usually need to submit questionnaires to ratings agencies, along with links to videos and images showing elements such as violence, language, and sexual content, after which IGRS conducts a manual review. He also bluntly said that the team may have been “taking on too much work without adequate resources.” It sounds realistic, but also disheartening. When processes are immature and resources cannot keep up, it is ultimately the developers and players who end up paying the price.

But looking at it calmly, problems with ratings agencies are not happening for the first time. Relevant institutions in Korea have warned about similar risks before, and it is even possible to apply for a confidentiality period. Nic McConnell’s advice was also very practical: “Only submit the materials that are absolutely necessary for review.” In my view, this is not just a technical issue, but a matter of the basic standards of industry cooperation. Going forward, publishers will most likely become more restrained in the materials they submit, and ratings agencies will also have to manage access permissions, cloud links, and manual review chains far more strictly.

For players, my advice is simple: if you are waiting for 007 First Light or Aincrad Echoing New Voice, try to avoid related keywords, video recommendations, and comment sections over the next few days. Don’t let the surprise that should belong to launch day be spent early on fragmented leaks. What the gaming industry has always feared most is not being a little slower, but having a blade painstakingly sharpened, only for everyone to see its edge before it is ever unsheathed.