4 most infamous cyberattacks in gaming history

Games are creating such vast amounts of revenue that cyberattacks have become a common trend in the past decade. Major developers/publishers like Ubisoft, CD Projekt Red and Activision, have all fallen prey to cyberattacks.

From ransomware attacks demanding money for the source code of games to the leaking of company data, there seems to be no end to cyberattacks. Locked in a constant battle, cybersecurity experts and cyberhackers play a daily game of virtual code chess, in which the winner takes it all.

#4 - CD Projekt Red

In a recent ransomware cyberattack in February, a hacker group known as "Hello Kitty" allegedly stole sensitive files and source codes from CD Projekt Red. The hackers left a ransom note, in which an ultimatum of 48 hours was given to meet the demands; failing which sensitive data files would be leaked to gaming journalists and source code sold online.

#3 - Ubisoft

In a cyberattack on Ubisoft in July 2013, hackers managed to break into some of Ubisoft's online systems. Egregor group was responsible for the cyberattack that left user account details public, however, no payment details were exposed. Ubisoft urged users to change the passwords of their U-Play accounts immediately for good measure.

Recently, in November of 2020, Ubisoft stated that it was investigating reports of Watch Dogs: Legion's source code being leaked by the same hackers who targeted their systems in 2013.

A few days ago, a few members of Egrenor ransomware group were arrested by Ukrainian and French police.

#2 - Activision Blizzard

In 2020, Activision Blizzard game titles experienced simultaneous hits with a DDoS attack. Game titles such as Call of Duty, Overwatch and World of Warcraft went down.

The issue was quickly traced back to Blizzard’s Battle.net, where the attack occurred and subsequently stopped.

#1 - Nintendo

Nintendo, in June 2020, announced that 300,000+ accounts were hacked, after it was discovered that personal Nintendo Network IDs were used without permission.

The hackers were not only able to access accounts, but also use the owners' money to buy virtual currency in-game as well. Reportedly, the cyberattack also allowed the hackers to view birthdates, home areas, and granted access to payment services linked to the Nintendo system.

About the author

Matthew Wilkins is one of the top writers at Sportskeeda Gaming, having crossed 16 million views in just over three years. Matthew currently writes for Fortnite, MMO, and other sections as well. Speaking with developers of the Total War franchise and reviewing numerous AAA games have been key milestones in his career so far.

Matthew is a Communicative English Major, and his skills and experience have helped him dig deep in the world of esports and gaming journalism. He prioritizes accuracy and ensures nothing is second-guessed. Being connected to the community is an important aspect of his life, as it helps him keep track of credible insiders and leakers to be among the first to report on breaking news.

Matthew grew up playing video games, with Age of Empires serving as his gateway into the world. Currently, he leans towards real-time as well as turn-based strategy games, 4x, and similar genres, and frequently binge-plays solo or multiplayer titles on PC. His love for Red Dead Redemption 2 and Stellaris are unparalleled, matched perhaps only by Fortnite. Matthew is also a vocalist and performs a variety of genres like Glam Rock, Pop, Heavy Metal, and Rock when not writing.

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4 most infamous cyberattacks in gaming history

4 most infamous cyberattacks in gaming history

#4 - CD Projekt Red

#3 - Ubisoft

#2 - Activision Blizzard

#1 - Nintendo