FromSoftware Parent Company Hacked by Ransomware Gang Threatening to Release Internal Data
Kadokawa Group, a multinational media conglomerate whose holdings include Elden Ring developer FromSoftware and Anime News Network, acknowledged a "significant cyberattack" on Thursday and said it's currently working on "solutions and workarounds" for its systems.
In a lengthy update, Kadokawa Group said that popular Japanese video sharing site Niconico was among the hardest hit by the cyberattack, with all services suspended since June 8. It did not acknowledge FromSoftware, and it's unclear what impact the hack had on the Elden Ring developer, if any. IGN has reached out to FromSoftware for comment or clarification.
The ransomware group that perpetrated the hack posted a message saying that it had managed to download confidential and other information, including the personal information of employees. Kadokawa Group said that it is investigating the extent of the leakage with external organizations.
The games industry in general has proven vulnerable to cyberattacks in the past. Rockstar Games and Insomniac are among the studios to be heavily impacted by ransomware attacks, resulting in the release of a large amount of confidential data. A recent report on Wired detailed why ransomware attacks are "more brutal than ever" in 2024.
While it's unclear whether FromSoftware was impacted by the hack, IGN has reached out to Bandai Namco and Kadokawa Group for more information and will update the story as necessary.
Kat Bailey is IGN's News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.
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