Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red has stated that it has been the victim of a cyber attack, with its internal systems having been hacked by an anonymous party. This hack has allegedly seen the source code for Cyberpunk 2077, Gwent, and the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of The Witcher 3 being obtained, with CDPR sharing the ransom note they received.
In an “important update” posted by CD Projekt Red to Twitter, the company said that it had “become a victim of a targeted cyber attack, due to which some of our internal systems have been compromised.” While CDPR noted that it had found no evidence that the personal data of its players had been obtained, it noted that the hacker had gained unauthorized access to its internal network.
CD Projekt Red hack and how it compromised Cyberpunk 2077 source code
While CDPR didn’t note exactly which data had been compromised, it also took the unusual step of posting the note left by the hacker to its official Twitter page. The hacker, who began the ransom note by saying that CDPR had been “EPICALLY pwned!!”, claimed that they had “dumped FULL copies of the source codes from [CDPR’s] Perforce server,” and that they had encrypted the company’s servers, too.
Important Update pic.twitter.com/PCEuhAJosR
— CD PROJEKT RED (@CDPROJEKTRED) February 9, 2021
So what does this mean for CD Projekt Red, Cyberpunk 2077, and the rest of the company’s games? If the hacker is to be believed, then them obtaining the source code for these games theoretically opens the door to widespread piracy. As both Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3 have yet to release their PS5 and Xbox Series X upgrades, the source code for these games leaking online before their official release would be hugely damaging for CDPR.
CDPR has stated that it is taking the steps to mitigate the consequences of the source code being release and that it has secured its IT infrastructure, though as the data is seemingly already in the hands of hacker, it’s unlikely that it would be able to prevent the source code making its way online. The company noted that it has approached the authorities, so hopefully, the perpetrator will be able to be tracked down.
CD Projekt Red has had a difficult few months. The Cyberpunk 2077 launch didn’t go as well as anticipated, with the company having to release its roadmap alongside an apology and explanation of what went wrong. Additionally, its upcoming paid DLC was likely delayed to at least 2022, while CDPR also had to deflect rumors that it was gearing up for a No Man’s Sky-esque comeback.
