[Update] Douglas Farrar, the FTC's Director of the Office of Public Affairs, has taken to Twitter to clarify what we've written below. In addition, Judge Corley has now clarified that "Microsoft provided the link on September 14 and the Court uploaded the exhibits to internet page established for this case."

　　Seemingly, however, staff of the court uploaded unredacted versions of the leaked internal documents.

　　The judge just posted this order related to the accidental publication of Microsoft documents. pic.twitter.com/1nShLKrYbD

　　— Douglas Farrar (@DouglasLFarrar) September 19, 2023

　　[Original story] The Federal Trade Commission has issued a statement regarding the Microsoft mega-leak overnight, saying it's not responsible for leaking the documents.

　　Overnight, various internal Microsoft documents leaked as part of published documents that were shared during the FTC/Microsoft case some months ago. Apparently, these leaked internal docs were attached to a single publically published PDF file and incorrectly hidden. Following these leaks, there have been people suggesting that, given the FTC's stance in the Microsoft/Activision case, the documents were leaked intentionally.

　　As posted by Axios' Stephen Totilo, an FTC Spokesperson has now said that the regulator isn't to be blamed for the leak, as it wasn't responsible for uploading the documents to the court website. "The FTC was not responsible for uploading Microsoft's plans for its games and consoles to the court website,” FTC spokesperson Douglas Farrar told Totilo.

　　It will be interesting to see how this matter pans out. Microsoft hasn't publically commented on the mega-leak, but we can imagine the company not being too happy with having its future plans leaked. As covered today, Microsoft appears to be planning to release an Xbox Series X console refresh next year as well as a next-gen Xbox in 2027. Other leaked info revealed that Microsoft and Bethesda are planning to release remasters of The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Fallout 3 alongside Dishonored 3, a Ghostwire: Tokyo sequel, and more.

　　Other interesting tidbits from the leaked files include Microsoft seemingly wanting to purchase Nintendo, Warner Bros., and Bethesda in 2020. "I've had numerous conversations with the LT of Nintendo about tighter collaboration and feel like if any US company would have a change with Nintendo we are probably in the best position", Phil Spencer said in an internal Microsoft email in 2020. "The unfortunate (or fortune for Nintendo) situation is that Nintendo is sitting on a big pile of cash".

　　Spencer also said: "At some point, getting Nintendo would be a career moment and I honestly believe a good move for both companies. It's just taking a long time for Nintendo to see that their future exists off of their own hardware. A long time...."