Canadian game developer Red Barrels, renowned for its acclaimed Outlast franchise, has recently suffered a significant cyber attack. In an official announcement, the studio has indicated that its internal systems have been compromised due to a “cybersecurity event”. The hacker group, identified as Nitrogen, has reportedly gained access to Red Barrels’ internal data.
As detailed in a report (via MP1st), the breached files include the source code for Outlast 1 and 2, unreleased game builds, along with confidential HR and financial documents, which may consist of credit card information. Additionally, over 1.8 TB of sensitive corporate data has been allegedly exfiltrated. Nitrogen is now demanding an undisclosed ransom from Red Barrels, threatening to leak the compromised information if their demands are not met.
We have engaged a team of leading external cybersecurity experts to carry out a thorough investigation into this incident. We have also informed stakeholders potentially affected by this event, as well as the appropriate authorities. As a precautionary measure, we are providing our employees with necessary support.
This cyber breach has greatly impacted operations at Red Barrels, affecting the timeline of ongoing and future game development projects. In the public statement, the studio confirmed that many aspects of its development roadmap will face considerable delays while security professionals work to restore compromised systems.
Particularly concerning is the acquisition of proprietary Outlast code by the hackers, which heightens the risk of piracy and unauthorized clones of their games.
The disruption to our production schedule has been considerable. We will strive to adhere to our roadmap; however, some timelines will inevitably shift. We will provide a more detailed update at the earliest opportunity.
Fortunately, Red Barrels reassured that no player data was accessed during this breach. Nonetheless, players should be prepared for potential delays in future content and features for upcoming installments, including The Outlast Trials. The studio has also committed to reviewing its practices to enhance security protocols moving forward.
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