PlayStation’s Top Trophy Hunter Hakoom Retires Amidst Account Controversy and Data Security Claims
After years at the top of the PlayStation trophy leaderboard, Abdul Hakam, known as "Hakoom," one of the world’s most recognized trophy hunters, recently announced his retirement. The news has left the gaming community buzzing, not only because Hakoom is stepping down, but also due to the dramatic story he shared about why. In a detailed video and posts on social media, Hakoom claimed his retirement was spurred by a series of events involving PlayStation, account security issues, and allegations of corruption that have shaken his confidence in the brand. His retirement marks the end of an era for PlayStation trophy hunting, but the story behind it has left many questions and a fair share of controversy in its wake.
A Trophy Hunter's Rise to Fame
Hakoom’s journey to the top began when Sony first launched its trophy system with the PlayStation 3 in 2008. As PlayStation introduced this feature to reward players for their in-game achievements, Hakoom became one of the earliest and most dedicated participants, quickly earning a reputation as a serious competitor. By 2013, he reached a milestone few could imagine—Level 100 on the PlayStation Network, with tens of thousands of trophies under his belt. In 2018, he even achieved a Guinness World Record for the most platinum trophies, cementing his legacy as a pioneer in trophy hunting.
However, Hakoom’s journey took a dark turn in September when he discovered that his account had been permanently suspended without any initial explanation from PlayStation. After reaching out to customer support with little success, he eventually learned from another source that his account data had allegedly been leaked. A supposed insider shared screenshots showing what appeared to be PlayStation’s internal administrative tools, revealing that employees may have been bribed to access and even sell users' private data. The screenshots, he claims, provided evidence of unauthorized account access—a violation that affected not only him but potentially other users as well.
PlayStation’s Response and Accusations Against Hakoom
Following Hakoom’s inquiries, PlayStation eventually responded, but rather than addressing the alleged data breach, they cited a list of policy violations on his account, including:
Earning platinum trophies for games that typically take hours to complete in a matter of minutes.
Completing games in “0 minutes,” an impossible feat under normal circumstances.
Logging into over 2,000 different accounts through his consoles.
Activating his account on 29 different consoles.
Hakoom quickly defended himself, explaining that some trophies can be “auto-popped” across different console versions (for example, earning a trophy on PS4 allows it to instantly unlock on PS5). He argued that logging into various accounts and using multiple consoles over his long trophy-hunting career was not unusual for a dedicated player. To him, PlayStation’s accusations seemed like an attempt to shift focus away from the alleged data security issue by framing him as a rulebreaker.
Rumors of Outsourced Trophy Hunting
Adding another layer to the story, Hakoom’s career has long been shadowed by rumors that he may not have achieved every trophy on his own. Some in the gaming community have speculated that he may have hired others to help complete particularly challenging or time-consuming games, an allegation he has always denied. These suspicions are compounded by Sony’s claim that his account had been logged into over 2,000 different devices, which some see as potential evidence that multiple individuals may have accessed his account over the years. For some, these details cast a shadow on his accomplishments, and whether or not these suspicions influenced PlayStation’s decision to suspend his account remains unclear. Nonetheless, the allegations and circumstances add another layer of complexity to Hakoom’s legacy.
Claims of Corruption and Data Security Risks
Hakoom’s primary concern, however, is with what he sees as an attempt by PlayStation to cover up a larger issue of data security. He alleges that PlayStation employees sold private data on Telegram and in underground forums, where unauthorized access to PSN accounts is allegedly traded. Hakoom shared what he claims are screenshots as evidence, showing administrative tools that could only be accessed by employees. For him, the risk goes beyond his personal experience, as he believes it could affect the privacy and security of every PSN user.
Hakoom has since stated that while PlayStation ultimately reinstated his account, they removed him from their partnership program and refused to acknowledge the alleged data leak. The experience has left him disillusioned, and he now questions whether he can trust a platform that, in his view, handled his concerns with “corruption and oppression.”
The Legacy and the Fallout
For the gaming community, Hakoom’s retirement signals the end of an era. Known as one of the top PlayStation trophy hunters in the world, his story raises questions about PlayStation’s data security practices and what it means to truly earn a place at the top of competitive gaming. His allegations of data leaks and the company’s alleged attempts to blame him for infractions have sparked conversations about privacy, transparency, and the integrity of user data.
For his fans, Hakoom’s departure leaves a void. Whether or not one agrees with his methods or his stance on PlayStation’s actions, his influence on the world of trophy hunting is undeniable. His retirement invites other dedicated players to rise to the top, but the story behind his exit may continue to linger, with unresolved questions about both his legacy and PlayStation’s handling of user data.
Hakoom’s story serves as a reminder of the evolving relationship between players and platforms in an increasingly interconnected gaming world. As players wait to see if PlayStation will address these concerns, the impact of Hakoom’s legacy on the PlayStation trophy-hunting community is sure to be felt for years to come.
