Last month the an early PS2 version of the uncut (and banned in the UK) game Manhunt 2 was leaked online. Last week Sky News reported that “[The leak] was an illegal criminal activity on the part of an employee of a company that happened to have access to the code. That person, without naming names, has been sacked and proceedings are taking place.”
So who was the thief? Gamepolitics investigated and found out that “Take-Two Interactive* has confirmed that a former employee of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) has acknowledged his responsibility for the unauthorized online distribution of an unrated play-test version of Manhunt 2 submitted for the European PAL PlayStation 2.”
While Manhunt 2 comes out rated M for Mature in the USA on Halloween next Wednesday; two weeks ago in the UK Manhunt 2’s re-rating was rejected for a second time, but Manhunt 2 is said to appear uncut in the Netherlands, a different European country.
PS: It might seem romantic that the person did this after the public outcry over the rating/banning and consequent censorship. But in reality it probably had nothing to do with artistic freedom of game developers and more with the public attention a leak would get. No matter what way you put it, it’s a criminal act, I wonder if he’ll go to jail.
* Take-Two Interactive is the owner of Manhunt 2 developer Rockstar Games. — Thanks to Shane for the tip.