Japanese man arrested for modifying Pokemon games, selling custom characters
Yoshihiro Yamakawa, a 36-year-old Japanese man, was recently arrested on suspicion of illegally manipulating saved data from the Nintendo Switch games, Pokemon Scarlet and Pokemon Violet. The arrest occurred after cyber patrol officers discovered him selling custom-made characters online. These characters were allegedly created by Yamakawa using an online tool to modify the game's save data, which is considered a violation of Japan's Unfair Competition Prevention Act.
Suspect caught while accepting orders
Yamakawa was intercepted by police cyber patrol while accepting orders for his custom-made characters. He had been advertising deals for challenging-to-train rare monsters, like "6 Pokemon for only $30," on a digital platform that trades in gaming assets and characters. The games, launched in 2022, focus on battling and collecting monsters, with players embarking on increasingly tough raids to capture exotic and hard-to-find creatures.
Not the first case of unlawful game modification
This is not the first instance of such an arrest. In 2021, another individual was detained for illegally altering saved data of Pokemon Sword and Pokemon Shield. The Pokemon Company has been actively working to curb this practice due to its widespread abuse among dishonest players. The latest incident highlights a recurring issue in the gaming community, where some players resort to unlawful methods to gain an advantage.
Man admits to charges, investigation continues
From December 2022 to March 2023, Yamakawa allegedly retailed his unique monsters for as much as ¥13,000 each (approximately $85). He reportedly admitted to the charges, stating "I did it to earn a living." Despite his confession, the investigation continues. Authorities suspect that Yamakawa's total earnings from this illegal activity could potentially reach millions of yen (around tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars).
