Big games get leaks; not everyone is like the leaker of Starfield, who has been arrested after allegedly trying to sell stolen copies of Bethesda’s upcoming RPG. Darin Harris, 29, was processed at Shelby County, Tennessee Sheriff’s Office yesterday (August 24). He was booked on a felony charge of $2,500-10,000 worth of stolen property. He also had two misdemeanors for $1,000 or less of stolen property and possession of marijuana.
The arrest has come for the Starfield leaker after he posted 45 minutes of gameplay four days ago. As review codes for creators and journalists emerged, possible leaks were inevitable. The gameplay footage has sparked debates about the quality of the game before people can play it for themselves, from people thinking it looks like a masterpiece to it being a flop.
Starfield Leaker Arrested With a Felony Charge for Trying To Sell Stolen Copies
Following the initial leak, people speculated that Harris did not know what he was doing. He eventually posted a video about the game and addressed the game’s director, Todd Howard, to tell him it was a “good game.”
“Todd, no offense man, that’s a good game. They were saying I play like a beginner cause I’m not a game expert. I was just trying something out. That’s a good game. Ya’ll don’t want to miss it.”
The Starfield leaker went above showing gameplay and telling people what he thought. He started posting listings of the game online to purchase, including pricier editions, like the $300 Constellation Edition, which includes a watch seen from the game. He had hundreds of listings, with some being marked as sold. There was plenty of evidence as he made videos of going to FedEx and had piles of packages of Starfield in his car.
Prior to his arrest, Harris deleted his social media and attempted to delete as much of the video evidence. How the police got onto the case is unclear as Microsoft or Bethesda could have pressed the issue, or someone else had called in about the theft.
Despite what was sold or posted by the Starfield leaker, the game has almost arrived. If you have the Premium Edition or the upgrade on Game Pass, you can start on September 1. It will be released for everyone on September 6.
