The recent leaks for the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Arceus have shown a lot of the game that the developers didn't intend, but fans shouldn't worry that they'll derail it completely. The leaks are big and reveal quite a few details of the game, but there's also a lot that's yet unknown, so players still have plenty to look forward to. Even with new information about the game that the developers hadn't decided to release yet available to the public, Legends: Arceus still promises to be a great game and an all-new Pokémon experience.
Among other things, the leaks detail new Hisuian forms beyond what has already been confirmed, new moves and abilities, and some story elements and missions. Without going into too much detail, it would appear that there's quite a bit new for players to see and do in the game. The new Legends: Arceus Pokémon that the leaks revealed include some that fans already expected, as well as some curveballs. The leaks likely don't encompass everything that it has to offer, which means that Pokémon Legends: Arceus can still dazzle and delight players journeying through the Hisui region.
There are a few reasons that the spoilers contained in the new leaks won't ruin the game completely. Information and rumors about Legends: Arceus have been trickling out since its announcement, and many other big games have survived leaks and gone on to have great success. Many players will try to actively avoid the leaks, which is pretty easy to do. It might even be good for the game; the new information could generate hype and get gamers excited about it, which may even lead to a boost in pre-orders. Pokémon Legends: Arceus' gameplay previews have also revealed some exciting elements behind the game.
Spoilers Won't Ruin Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Although many moviegoers and video game lovers avoid spoilers like the plague, they aren't too much of a cause for alarm. In terms of a short, linear narrative, such as a book or short story, spoilers can ruin one's enjoyment of it. Video games, however, aren't often short or always follow a linear narrative, and in a semi-open world like Pokémon Legends: Arceus, a few unexpected details won't ruin the entire game. Some psychological studies have even found that spoilers can enhance enjoyment of a given piece of media, although this is likely to vary among individuals.
The new game details might be unexpected, but the Pokémon company has been teasing information about the game for a long time. Pokémon Legends: Arceus' Bravely Default-like Battle Styles are just one of the teasers that has been released to fans purposefully. While the new leaks are much more than they've ever done, the fact remains that information about the game has been steadily coming to light for a while now. Some of the leaks have also only confirmed rumors that already existed, so there isn't as much new as some might think. Legends: Arceus as a whole will survive. It's an innovative game from a series that's beloved the world over, and its new mold-breaking features mean that it'll take more than a few leaks to bring it crashing down to earth.
The Leaks Are Too Late To Break Pokémon Legends: Arceus
Another thing to remember is that the leaks released about a week from the planned release date, so many of Pokémon Legends: Arceus' characters and features were revealed already. The game has already been completed and is preparing to ship to stores and households around the globe, and it's even been said that the leaks themselves came from finished copies of the game. The fact that all of it is happening so close to release means that many fans have already pre-ordered the game, and many more have been looking forward to it for a while now. If they had come out much sooner, then perhaps they could have done some damage, but the hype and excitement that's built up can't be stopped so easily.
For fans who really don't want to hear anything more about Legends: Arceus, and want to go into the game as blind as possible, it's a simple matter of not looking up the leaks. Fans who don't want to risk ruining their experience of Pokémon Legends: Arceus shouldn't have too hard a time of avoiding it as long as they avoid places that overtly advertise spoilers. Although it's possible that one might accidentally come across some new detail that they weren't previously aware of online, it's highly unlikely that they'll find everything known or rumored at once. Even if they do find something, then all they have to do is close the tab or turn their head. To be courteous, those who already know about them should also avoid discussing them in public and add warnings on online posts.
Pokémon Legends: Arceus Spoilers Could Make Fans More Excited
The new leaks are unlikely to do major damage to Legends: Arceus' success in the short term, and in the long run, they may even be of help. Pokémon Legends: Arceus' time travel theory, among others, are still unconfirmed, and the game as a whole is still mostly unknown for the time being, so knowing a small part of what's to come can make fans even more excited than they were for it than before. Game companies, including Pokémon, release small details about their upcoming games all the time to generate hype. Taking in all of the new information in small doses, or choosing to only read one or two details, accidentally or not, might have the same effect. Pre-orders may just get a boost ahead of the game's release due to these leaks.
Knowing about more Hisuian Pokémon forms than they did before won't stop players from wanting to use and catch them in their journey through ancient Sinnoh. Reading the outlines of some story missions doesn't mean that players don't want to complete those missions. Fans still want to fulfill Pokémon Legends: Arceus' research tasks and fill the first-ever Pokédex. Games are greater than the sum of their parts, so fans aren't likely to abandon Legends: Arceus because of a few spoilers. The game will still be an exciting and new experience, and perhaps the start of a whole new chapter in the Pokémon series. Fans have nothing to worry about from the leaks, because they ultimately won't be very effective. If anything, the new information just means that there's more of Pokémon Legends: Arceus to look forward to than before.