Chinese game developer Hypergryph shared an update via its official Weibo account on April 27, outlining the latest actions taken against intellectual property violations concerning Arknights and Arknights: Endfield. The studio has addressed multiple infringement cases using civil and criminal measures, resulting in penalties for those responsible.
A significant case involved a major leak of character artwork for Arknights’s Summer Carnival 2025 before the event launched in-game. An investigation found that an employee at a partner supplier leaked the data, breaching non-disclosure agreements, and another person shared it on social media. Hypergryph initiated a civil lawsuit, which concluded with the offenders ordered to pay a total of 1.3 million yuan (approximately $190k USD) in damages. Both individuals were also required to issue a public apology to Hypergryph, which is included in the studio’s recent Weibo post.
Hypergryph also acted on leaks tied to Arknights’s Spring Festival 2026 and Arknights: Endfield’s unreleased gameplay, reporting these incidents to local authorities. After an investigation confirmed the actions violated trade secrets, administrative penalties were enforced on the individuals involved. The studio further revealed it has pinpointed the source of the latest Arknights leak, which exposed unreleased content from the upcoming seventh anniversary event. Legal proceedings and corrective actions are now underway.
Regarding cheaters and private servers, an underground group was discovered creating and selling cheat programs, earning about 1.2 million yuan ($175k USD) over time. The group’s members have been apprehended and face legal charges.
Sellers of counterfeit Arknights merchandise are also being targeted, as Hypergryph is employing various strategies—including platform complaints, civil lawsuits, and criminal action—to eliminate bootleg items found on online marketplaces.
Hypergryph is encouraging fans to report any instances of leaks, cheating, or intellectual property violations to report@hypergryph.com. Individuals providing valuable information will receive appropriate rewards.