In a stunning turn of events, a Tennessee resident found himself in legal trouble after leaking early content and attempting to sell unreleased copies of Bethesda’s highly anticipated game, Starfield. Darin Harris, the individual at the center of this saga, was arrested and charged with a felony for his actions, alongside misdemeanor counts of theft of property and possession of controlled substances, according to a Shelby County, Tennessee, arrest record dated August 24.
Harris, who reportedly operated under the YouTube account DHavenShadow, caught the gaming community’s attention when he posted nearly 40 minutes of Starfield gameplay online on August 22. The footage, captured from a cellphone pointed at a TV, rapidly spread across various platforms despite being taken down due to copyright claims. Remarkably, the leaked content garnered over a million views on Imgur before being removed.
As speculation grew, Harris responded to the attention, promising more leaks and engaging with commenters. While his initial leaked video demonstrated novice gameplay, he assured viewers that Starfield was a game worth experiencing. He even ventured into selling copies of the game on a Mercari page, ranging from the base edition to the premium Constellation Edition, at prices reaching $650.
The situation escalated as Harris shared videos displaying stacks of shrinkwrapped Starfield copies, seemingly ready for distribution. Observant Redditors noted the gradual disappearance of Harris’ online content, along with identifying details present in his videos.
Authorities subsequently intervened, resulting in Harris’ arrest. He was granted release on a $10,000 bail and is scheduled to appear in court on September 8. This incident is reminiscent of past instances where individuals faced legal repercussions for pre-release leaks, such as the infamous 2004 case involving the source code theft of Half-Life 2.
Bethesda enthusiasts, however, can rest assured that legitimate copies of Starfield are just around the corner. The game’s official release is slated for September 6, with early access available on September 1 for those who preordered. As the gaming world eagerly anticipates the debut of Starfield, this recent incident serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting developers’ efforts and adhering to legal boundaries in the gaming community.