Epic Games Is Suing A Tester Over Fortnite: Chapter 2 Leaks

It's no secret that Epic Games is a rather litigious company. It will sue those who dare to besmirch the good name of Fortnite. This time around, Epic Games is going after a play tester named Lucas Johnston, who allegedly leaked Fortnite: Chapter 2 content before the black hole had spat out the new map and features. 

The release of Fortnite: Chapter 2 was preceded by a number of leaks that all but spoiled the surprise of the new map and mechanics. Heck, we even reported that the Battle Pass trailer had been posted hours before the launch of Fortnite: Chapter 2. The short trailer essentially gave every detail as to what was new in Chapter 2. This, however, isn't the confidential information that Epic Games is claiming Johnston leaked. 

Allegedly, Johnston took a screenshot of the still confidential gameplay, which was then posted online a few weeks later on September 12, well ahead of the official Fortnite: Chapter 2 release on October 15. Keywords Studios, Johnston's employer, traced the leak to Johnston by reviewing security footage and noticing — quite damningly — that whoever posted the image had friends in common with an account that used Johnston's email. Perhaps in light of all this evidence, Johnston admitted to taking the screenshot and emailing it to himself. But he claims to have no idea how it ended up online for all the world to see.

Johnston was later fired from Keywords Studios.

Epic is not only upset over the violation of its non-disclosure agreement; it is also claiming that Johnston ruined the launch of Fortnite: Chapter 2, claiming that he "deprived [the company] of the element of surprise." Johnston isn't the only tester in hot water either. Epic is suing user experience tester named Ronald Sykes for taking its Chapter 2 secrets to Twitter and not-so-subtly telling the world about new mechanics like swimming. 

Leakers beware: Epic Games takes its secrets very seriously.