Rockstar Games Targeted in DDoS Attack

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Rockstar Games Targeted in DDoS Attack

Key Takeaways

  • Rockstar Games was hit by DDoS attacks following a GTA Online update that added BattlEye Anti-Cheat.
  • Fans upset over lost Steam Deck compatibility as a result of the anti-cheat have reportedly launched cyberattacks.
  • The DDoS attacks targeted Rockstar and BattlEye servers, affecting GTA Online and Red Dead Online.

As a dedicated fan who has spent countless hours immersed in the vibrant and chaotic world of Los Santos, I find myself deeply troubled by the recent cyberattacks against Rockstar Games. The company that brought us masterpieces like Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption 2 has long been a beacon of creativity and innovation in the gaming industry.

It’s been reported that video game developer, Rockstar Games, which is famous for creating games like ‘Grand Theft Auto’ and ‘Red Dead’, among others, has experienced a series of Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks. These attacks have disrupted the online services of certain titles, following the release of the latest update for ‘Grand Theft Auto Online’.

Rockstar Games announced in the update notes for GTA Online on September 17th that they had incorporated BattlEye Anti-Cheat into the game’s online mode, more than a decade after its initial release. The studio mentioned that this move was aimed at safeguarding the community from cheaters, a persistent issue with GTA Online. However, instead of being met with approval, the addition of BattlEye led to the game losing compatibility with Steam Deck, and some disgruntled fans retaliated by launching cyberattacks against Rockstar Games.

A group of people opposed to the recent addition of BattlEye Anti-Cheat to GTA Online used a botnet to target Rockstar Games’ authentication servers with DDoS attacks, content creator and leaker Mors Mutual Insurance claimed in a series of posts on Twitter. The attacks seemingly limited the capabilities of the servers for GTA Online and Red Dead Online. Another Twitter user pointed out that BattlEye’s website also went offline around the same time Rockstar Games’ servers were hit. A different perpetrator was behind the attack on BattlEye’s site, according to Mors Mutual, whose name is based on an insurance company that is featured in GTA 5.

September 2024 Cyberattacks Against Rockstar Games

Rockstar Games states in a FAQ that GTA Online’s specific version of BattlEye isn’t compatible with the Steam Deck. Valve mentioned earlier in a blog post that developers just need to communicate with BattlEye to enable their anti-cheat solution on Proton, the tool that allows Windows software to run smoothly on Linux devices like the Steam Deck without requiring users to make any adjustments. Several games using BattlEye have already been made to work on Valve’s handheld, such as ARK: Survival Evolved, DayZ, and Mount & Blade 2: Bannerlord. The first game is even included in the list of Steam Deck verified games.

Beyond the addition of BattlEye, the recent update for “GTA Online” also tackled several issues. For instance, a bug that was causing some players’ games to crash has been fixed. Another problem that Rockstar Games rectified prevented players from accepting invitations or joining others.

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2024-09-25 00:04