Red Barrels, the development studio behind the Outlast series, has suffered a major cyber attack.
In a statement on its website, the developer Red Barrels confirms its "internal IT systems" were hacked, "involving access to some of its data". Having completed an investigation of the situation, the team confirms that players of its games are unaffected by the data breach.
As a result of the attack, development on its current work will see "significant" delays. "We'll share a more detailed update on that as soon as we can," the statement reads.
According to MP1st, citing an anonymous source close to the situation, the attack has come from a group named 'Nitrogen', with 1.8TB of data stolen from Red Barrels. The report states that source code for "at least" Outlast 1 and Outlast 2 is included, along with financial information, HR files, and game builds.
The data is reportedly being held to ransom for an undisclosed sum of money, with a threat to release all the information publicly if left unpaid.
Many gaming studios and publishers have been targeted in this way; Insomniac Games suffered a similar data breach at the end of last year, resulting in the release of a ton of stolen information.
[source redbarrelsgames.com, via mp1st.com]
Comments 19
People like this are truly cancerous
@Oram77 you're being far too nice. Cancer can at least be cured.
The joys of being a game developer in the middle of a boring cyberpunk dystopia.
I'm a bit two faced about things like this.
On the one hand I definitely think it's awful and I hope the leaker gets caught and severely punished.
But on the other, this industry is so closed-off and cloak and dagger that large leaks are often the only thing that confirms facts and figures without cherry picking to put a spin on it. It's the one time the industry is entirely truthful.
I'm sure that's not entirely helpful or just, but it IS honest.
@themightyant I understand where you are coming from. But for me, I absolutely hate this leak culture we are in. Imagine something you have been working on for years get's leaked, AND then they try to black mail you!
Did Red Barrels do something wrong to warrant this attack - not that any cyber-attack is justifiable, but some people see it as a virtuous act in response to injustices - or is this merely a case of some [expletive] looking for an opportunity to make some money?
Bottom feeders the lot of em' publishing game code is one thing but peoples personal data is inexcusable.
@Oram77 I fully get it. In fact I've been in that situation, saying it sucks doesn't even begin to cover it, it's like the bottom of your world falls out, there goes all the plans you had and you have to scramble to try and fix it. I have a ridiculous amount of empathy for those in that position, it's truly awful. I'm not encouraging blackmail either.
To be clear i'm not talking about leaks of games, or future lineups or anything like that, I don't want or care about any of that. It's more about OLD business numbers and data that could be made available to us, but gaming companies are too over-protective. We often don't even see sales numbers, unlike virtually every other media industry.
E.g. Take the Insomniac leak for example and we saw that PlayStation Studios and first-party games sold 66% as PHYSICAL media as recently as 2022. That IS interesting, especially when Sony are cherry picking another statistic (67% digital in FY2022) to suggest to us that physical media is dying. They just want a bigger piece of the pie.
If the industry wasn't so closeted and two-faced about all their data, cherry picking it to spin it to their advantage, then we wouldn't have to be two-faced about where we get it.
That all said. I do sincerely hope the people at Red Barrels are OK.
So many waste of space no lifers out there
As much as it pains me to say this as mentioned by the developer thankfully no players personal information was taken that is at least something.
the source code is included now someone else can make a better outlast since red barrel decided to turn their backs on the fans that liked the single player story outlast games . i was honestly upset & kinda mad when they announced this mid BS live service game instead of outlast 3 . who tf makes a spin-off in a franchise without finishing the trilogy ??
@themightyant Unfinished work that was leaked by a hack can be pretty harmful. Look how many idiots thought Insomniac's games "looks so bad" even though the game literally was not finished and not ready to be shared.
Edit: I do agree about your point about numbers. The industry needs to be more transparent
On the other hand, who cares about the leaks?
It's a piece of entertainment. I'll see it when I play it lol. Why would anyone be interested in the leaks. I haven't seen anything from the GTA leaks either
Totally sucks for the studio though, first and foremost
@themightyant it’s a crime. A lot of money will be lost. There’s no positive side to this story
@Doctor_BK There is no way of justifying what they have done, not sure how "showing those figures" makes it ok...
@nomither6 aren't you the same guy who always defends live service games and attacks people for not wanting them?? now that your fav turned live service you are upset?? WHAT
@SamMR nah , i don’t recall attacking anyone, but i like single player as much as live service. i feel like i serve as a balance between the two sides that oppose each other. i wouldn’t of had an issue if outlast 3 came before trials, and now the future of it even being an outlast 3 is delayed even more & “knock on wood” could even be cancelled
I really hope there isn't anyone that gives up money to these morons. Yes it sucks to be leaked but it is better to let them know that blackmail will not work.
@nomither6 That's certainly a childish way of thinking. I would rather wait until the devs actually think of a good idea for a proper sequel instead of rushing one out because it's the third sequel. Outlast Trials is a fun coop game and especially with friends but I cannot deny it does not compare to Outlast 1 and 2 due to the way the mission design works.
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