There’s a new name buzzing in cybersecurity circles, and now it’s starting to make waves in the gaming world. A hacking group calling itself the Crimson Collective has just claimed its latest victim: Nintendo. If you’re wondering whether to take this seriously, you should. This is the same group that recently pulled off a major data breach against the enterprise software giant Red Hat. Let’s dive into what’s going on.
Who Is the Crimson Collective?
Crimson Collective is a relatively new but highly aggressive extortion group that burst onto the scene in September 2025. They quickly made a name for themselves by targeting high-profile companies. Their most significant confirmed attack was on Red Hat, a major provider of open-source software for businesses.
In that incident, the group breached a company server and claimed to have stolen about 570 gigabytes of data. This wasn’t just random files; it included highly sensitive ‘Customer Engagement Reports’ for some of the world’s biggest names in finance, tech, and even government. We’re talking about companies like Bank of America, HSBC, AT&T, and even government bodies like the US Department of Homeland Security. Crimson Collective tried to extort Red Hat, and when they were initially ignored, they proved they weren’t bluffing. Red Hat later confirmed the breach, and the incident sent shockwaves through the tech industry.
The Big Claim: Hacking Nintendo
Now, the group has set its sights on the gaming industry. On October 11, 2025, Crimson Collective announced they had successfully breached Nintendo’s security. To back up their claim, they shared a screenshot on their Telegram channel that appears to show a directory of stolen files. The folder names suggest they have everything from production assets and developer files to system backups.
However, and this is a big however, Nintendo has remained completely silent. The company is famous for being incredibly secretive and protective of its properties. It’s very unlikely we will hear anything official from them unless the breach involves the personal data of customers, which would legally require them to make a public statement. So for now, we only have the hackers’ word and a single screenshot.
A Worrying Trend in Gaming
This isn’t the first time a major gaming company has been targeted. In fact, it’s becoming a disturbingly common trend. Just think back to the massive Rockstar Games hack in 2023, where early footage of Grand Theft Auto VI was leaked online. Or the ransomware attack on Insomniac Games, the studio behind Marvel’s Spider-Man, which resulted in a huge leak of employee data and future game plans. CD Projekt Red, the developer of The Witcher series and Cyberpunk 2077, was also hit hard in 2021 when hackers stole the source code for their games.
These incidents show that gaming companies are prime targets. They hold incredibly valuable intellectual property, and the hype around their products makes any leak big news. For extortion groups like Crimson Collective, they are a jackpot.
What Could Happen Next?
If the hack is real, Crimson Collective will almost certainly try to extort Nintendo for a large sum of money. Their strategy is clear: pay up, or we leak everything. If Nintendo refuses to pay-which is a strong possibility given the company’s history-the group could release the stolen data to the public. The impact of such a leak could be huge, potentially revealing secrets about upcoming games, hardware like the rumored Switch 2, and other internal projects. It would be a major headache for Nintendo and could lead to significant financial and reputational damage.
Your Questions Answered (FAQs)
- Who is Crimson Collective? They are a new cybercriminal group that specializes in hacking companies and extorting them for money. They gained notoriety for a confirmed breach of the software company Red Hat.
- Did they really hack Nintendo? They claim they did and have provided a screenshot as proof. However, Nintendo has not confirmed the breach, so it remains an unverified claim for now.
- What other companies has this group targeted? Their biggest confirmed target is Red Hat. They also claimed responsibility for attacks on the telecom operator Claro Colombia and a defacement of Nintendo’s website prior to this major claim.
- What data does the group claim to have from Nintendo? Based on their screenshot, they claim to have stolen production assets, developer files, and backups.
- Has Nintendo said anything about the hack? No, Nintendo has not made any public statement about the alleged breach.
- What could happen if the Nintendo data is leaked? A leak could expose sensitive information about unannounced games, future consoles, and internal company strategies, causing major disruptions for Nintendo and spoiling surprises for fans.
Conclusion
The situation with Crimson Collective and Nintendo is a serious one to watch. While the hack isn’t confirmed, the group’s track record with Red Hat proves they have the skills to back up their threats. This serves as another stark reminder that in today’s digital world, no one is safe-not even a giant like Nintendo. For now, all we can do is wait and see if Nintendo responds or if any data begins to surface online. It’s a tense waiting game for both the company and its millions of fans worldwide.