Epic reaches lawsuit settlement with former contractor who was also a notorious Fortnite leaker
Epic Games has reached a settlement with former contractor Hayden Cohen, who operated under the alias AdiraFN and was notorious for leaking Fortnite information before official announcements. The lawsuit, filed in March 2026, accused Cohen of breaching the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) he had signed as a condition of his contractor work.
According to the case, Cohen repeatedly disclosed confidential information about Fortnite collaborations and other game details prior to their public reveals, violating the terms of his NDA. The settlement includes a permanent injunction barring Cohen from possessing, accessing, using, or disclosing any of Epic Games’ confidential or trade secret information, as well as prohibiting him from assisting others in doing the same.
This case highlights the ongoing challenge major gaming publishers face in protecting unreleased content and maintaining surprise announcements for their live-service games. Fortnite’s frequent collaborations and seasonal updates rely heavily on controlled information flow to maximize player engagement and anticipation. Leakers who prematurely reveal this information can undermine the strategic value of surprise announcements.
The settlement demonstrates that publishers are willing to pursue legal action to protect their intellectual property and maintain control over their game’s promotional timeline. This outcome may serve as a deterrent to other potential leakers within the gaming industry, particularly those with contractual obligations to keep confidential information private.