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Report: Stolen CD Projekt game source code released into wild

Report: Stolen CD Projekt game source code released into wild

Game source code stolen from Polish studio CD Projekt Red is apparently being released online.

That's according to Databreaches.netas spotted by VGC – which reports that Payload Bin, the ransomware gang formerly known as Babuk, is making the source code for Cyberpunk 2077, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, as well as a new version of that game supporting raytracing, available.

This follows this source code being sold at a dark web auction in February of this year following a hack at the start of that month.

Though it's not known how much this sold for, the group who put these goods up for sale said that for $7 million, someone could have the code. This sale did come with conditions; namely that whoever bought it could not distribute it any further.

According to a 4chan post, shared on Resetera, these files are apparently password-protected, with users having to shell out $10,000 in order to receive the necessary credentials.

It's worth noting that users haven't been able to access the onion URL listed in the post, as well as the fact it asks Elon Musk to "pump bitcoin" on April 1st, which has now long since passed. So it's possible that while the Payload.bin leak is legitimate, the 4chan post here is not or is simply not active anymore.

In addition to source code for a number of games, the hackers also stole internal documents, as well as what it calls "CD Projekt Red offenses." These don't appear to be part of the current leak.

The cyberattack against CD Projekt also led to huge disruption of the studio's work, given that employees weren't able to access their workstations.


PCGamesInsider Contributing Editor

Alex Calvin is a freelance journalist who writes about the business of games. He started out at UK trade paper MCV in 2013 and left as deputy editor over three years later. In June 2017, he joined Steel Media as the editor for new site PCGamesInsider.biz. In October 2019 he left this full-time position at the company but still contributes to the site on a daily basis. He has also written for GamesIndustry.biz, VGC, Games London, The Observer/Guardian and Esquire UK.