Epic Games Sues Former Contractor and Fortnite Leaker AdiraFNInfo
Epic Games has formally escalated its battle against leaks by filing suit against a former contractor it says repeatedly exposed confidential partner material and internal trade secrets tied to Fortnite. In a public statement posted on X, Epic said it “took legal action against a former contractor who repeatedly leaked confidential partner IP and trade secrets that they received while working with Epic,” adding that the company will continue to act when team members share protected information because it harms partners and makes it harder to bring major collaborations into the game.
While Epic’s social post did not name the individual directly, the attached court filing identifies the defendant as Hayden Cohen, also known as AdiraFN and AdiraFNInfo. The complaint, filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina on March 5, 2026, alleges that Cohen was a former Epic contractor who signed a nondisclosure agreement, received access to confidential information through his work, and then publicly disclosed unreleased Fortnite collaboration details on X and Discord.
According to the complaint, Epic argues that the leaked material could not have been obtained through legitimate public means such as standard data mining of live builds. Instead, the company says the information was only accessible because of the defendant’s role and access to internal systems. Epic further claims that the leaks covered more than a dozen unannounced collaborations and content releases, reaching thousands of followers directly and then spreading much further through reposts and amplification.
The filing also includes specific examples. Epic says that on January 6, 2026, the defendant leaked details about an unannounced Fortnite collaboration with South Park, including cosmetic items that had not yet been revealed. It also states that on January 13, 2026, he leaked an upcoming collaboration involving Solo Leveling, weeks before Epic officially announced it on February 18, 2026. Epic argues these examples are only part of a broader pattern of repeated disclosures involving release timing, character details, cosmetics, and development status updates for unreleased content.
From Epic’s perspective, the damage goes beyond spoilers. The complaint says the leaks undermined player excitement, damaged trust with partners, disrupted announcement plans, and forced partners to divert resources to manage the fallout. That language is important because it shows Epic is framing leaks not as fan culture or community hype, but as a direct business harm tied to trade secret law, contractual obligations, and long term partner confidence.
This case could become one of the clearest warning shots yet for gaming insiders and leakers who gain access through internal roles rather than public facing discoveries. Datamining and speculation have long existed around live service games, but Epic’s complaint draws a sharp line between community sleuthing and the alleged misuse of privileged access covered by an NDA. In that sense, this lawsuit is not just about one Fortnite leaker. It is about reinforcing the message that publishers are willing to use the courts when confidential pipeline information is exposed from inside the house.
Do you think lawsuits like this will actually slow down major game leaks, or will publishers still struggle to contain insider information in the live service era?
