Why CD Projekt Red Is Going After Twitter Users
As if CD Projekt Red didn't have enough issues following the botched release of Cyberpunk 2077, the group is now facing off against a number of Twitter users. VICE reported that Twitter users have been passing around the stolen Gwent source code, causing CD Projekt Red to issue DMCA takedowns to protect its copyrighted material.
Earlier this month, CD Projekt Red received an ultimatum from an unidentified hacker who claimed to have the source code for several major CDPR games, including Cyberpunk 2077, Witcher 3, and the aforementioned Gwent. The hackers requested that CDPR contact them within 48 hours, and CDPR refused to cooperate. Afterwards, the source code was listed online to be auctioned off. The hacked codes reportedly sold quickly, and there was even speculation that CDPR was the anonymous buyer. However, the company never confirmed this theory, and now that the code is circulating online, fans have solid evidence that the source code was sold to a different entity.
CD Projekt Red scrambled to restrict access to the stolen information as Twitter users began sharing and linking to torrents of the Gwent source code. There hasn't been an official statement yet from CDPR since the source code was released, but the group is working hard to get the source code off the internet. Taking the information completely off of the web is difficult, but Twitter is a good starting point since it's a popular social media site with a large number of users.
The Gwent source code wasn't all the hackers were able to get. Personal information of employees and financial documents were also stolen in this breach, and it's unknown whether or not that was part of the information sold along with the source codes. CDPR issued a statement to ex-employees, saying that the group didn't have any evidence that employee information was stolen. So far, nothing else has popped up around the internet, but CDPR is working with authorities to try and find the hackers.
The group has reportedly lost $1 billion already after the release of Cyberpunk 2077, and the battle with these hackers is poised to cost the studio even more money. For gaming developers, DMCA takedowns are a way to protect its games and the integrity of its data. In this particular situation, DMCA takedowns are working as a form of damage control while CDPR tries to keep the source codes of its games away from the general public.