Epic Games has filed a lawsuit against one of Fortnite's most prominent leakers — with a catch that changes everything: the person behind the leaks was working for Epic at the time.
The Lawsuit Against AdiraFN
Hayden Cohen, known online as AdiraFN and AdiraFNInfo, was hired by Epic Games as an Associate Producer on contract. A legal complaint filed Thursday in the Eastern District of North Carolina reveals Cohen signed a non-disclosure agreement on September 11, 2025, then publicly disclosed confidential information during January and February.
The filing states: "Cohen's leaks were only possible because he abused the access he was granted to this information as part of his work for Epic and willfully disregarded his obligations to keep the information confidential."
The AdiraFNInfo account on X had more than 13,000 followers before being deactivated after the lawsuit. A Reddit user captured a screenshot of Cohen's LinkedIn profile before it was removed, showing previous roles at American Express, AMC, Peacock, and NBC Sports.
What Cohen Allegedly Leaked
The complaint details that Cohen shared information about unannounced Fortnite collaborations with South Park and Solo Leveling before any official reveal.
This case differs sharply from standard Fortnite leak practices. Community leakers like Shiina and HypeX extract unreleased content by data mining publicly available game files, which is legal. Epic's complaint draws a clear line:
That distinction carries legal weight. Data miners work with files anyone can download. Cohen had direct access to internal systems and communication channels unavailable to outsiders.
Timeline and Legal Demands
The complaint lays out this sequence:
- September 11, 2025: Cohen signs NDA with Epic Games
- January to February 2026: Cohen begins posting confidential Fortnite details publicly
- February 20, 2026: Epic sends cease and desist letter to Cohen
- March 6, 2026: Epic files formal complaint in North Carolina
At the time of filing, Cohen had "failed to fully comply" with Epic's demands.
What This Means for the Leaker Community
This lawsuit establishes a boundary between community data mining and insider breaches. Epic has historically allowed, and sometimes quietly benefited from, the buzz generated by data miners who surface upcoming skins and events early. That tolerance stops at employees and contractors who violate signed agreements.
For the broader Fortnite leak community, the message is direct. Epic isn't pursuing data miners in this case, which reinforces that legal risk stems from contractual violations and insider access, not the act of leaking itself.
Advance knowledge of collaborations can shift community excitement and purchasing decisions before official announcements. That commercial impact likely explains why Epic is framing this as a trade secrets violation rather than a straightforward NDA dispute.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who is AdiraFN and why is Epic suing them?
AdiraFN, real name Hayden Cohen, is a Fortnite leaker who was also contracted by Epic Games as an Associate Producer. Epic is suing Cohen for violating a signed NDA by disclosing confidential trade secrets, including details about unannounced collaborations.
Why aren't other Fortnite leakers like Shiina or HypeX being sued?
The complaint notes that leakers like Shiina and HypeX obtain information through data mining public game builds, which is legal. Cohen's situation differs because his access came through his internal role at Epic, not public files.
What did AdiraFN actually leak?
Cohen leaked information about unannounced Fortnite collaborations with South Park and Solo Leveling, content that was only accessible through Epic's internal systems.
