Rockstar Games Faces Second Cyberattack in Three Years, Minimizes Concerns

Cybersecurity news outlets reported a data breach at Rockstar Games on Saturday, revealing the company had been infiltrated once more. This follows a similar incident three years prior. The hackers, identified as ShinyHunters, claimed responsibility for accessing Rockstar’s servers via a third-party cloud provider. In posts shared with media, they stated they would release stolen data online unless a ransom was paid.

Rockstar Downplays the Breach’s Significance

Rockstar confirmed the incident to Kotaku but asserted the breach had “no impact on our organisation or our players.” A spokesperson for the studio told the publication, “A limited amount of non-material company information was accessed during the third-party data breach.” Despite the hackers’ threats, Rockstar appears unfazed, emphasizing the minimal exposure of sensitive data.

“We can confirm that a limited amount of non-material company information was accessed in connection with a third-party data breach,” said a Rockstar spokesperson.

The BBC has engaged with ShinyHunters, a group of English-speaking cybercriminals believed to be in their teens. They specialize in data theft and ransom demands, having previously targeted Ticketmaster. While the hackers did not disclose their methods to the BBC, they confirmed plans to leak stolen material online, as their payment request remained unmet.

Law enforcement globally recommends against paying cyber ransoms, arguing it sustains the hacking industry and does not ensure data deletion. This marks the second breach in Rockstar’s history. In 2023, an 18-year-old British hacker named Arion Kurtaj, part of the Lapsus$ gang, stole data, source code, and gameplay clips of the unreleased GTA 6. The leaks prompted the company to prematurely release its game trailer.

Kurtaj’s group, Lapsus$, gained notoriety for hacking major corporations in 2022 and 2023. While the current breach details remain unclear, the incident underscores ongoing vulnerabilities in the gaming industry. For updates on tech developments, sign up for the BBC’s Tech Decoded newsletter. International readers can join here.