Sunday’s Live-Streamed Game Marred by Hacking Incident
On Sunday, two competitive esports players appeared to get hacked during a live-streamed game of the popular shooter game Apex Legends. The incident has left organizers of the tournament scrambling to address the issue and ensure the integrity of the competition.
The Tournament: A Multi-Million Dollar Prize Pool
The affected tournament is the Apex Legends Global Series, which boasts a total prize pool of $5 million. The event brings together top players from around the world to compete in a series of matches, with the ultimate goal of claiming the championship title and a substantial cash prize.
Players’ Reactions to the Hacking Incident
During two separate games, two different players suddenly gained cheats in the middle of their matches. The first player, Genburten, was seen holding his hands up in frustration as he exclaimed, "Wait, what the fuck? Iām getting hacked, Iām getting hacked bro, Iām getting hacked." This reaction was captured on video and posted on X (formerly known as Twitter), which was also shared on multiple YouTube channels.
Evidence of Cheating
In the video, it’s clear that at one point – abruptly – Genburten starts seeing other players highlighted on the map, even those behind walls. This is what is called ‘wallhack,’ essentially a cheat that allows hackers to see opponents through in-game obstacles. Before that, for a split moment, a window appears on their screen, with what looks like a menu for a tool to enable cheats, titled ‘TSM HALAL HOOK.’
A Screenshot of the Cheating Menu
**Cheating Modes:**
* Wallhack
* Aimbot
* Rage Bot
In addition to Genburten’s experience, another player, ImperialHal, also reported being hacked during a match. They posted a sequence of their game on X, where they repeatedly exclaimed, "Iām cheating, Iām cheating, Iām cheating, Iām fucking cheating!" and referred to the common cheating technique known as ‘aimbot,’ which allows players to automatically aim at enemies.
Consequences: The Tournament’s Response
Following these hacks, the organizers of the tournament announced they were suspending and postponing the tournament. In a statement on X, the official Apex Legends Esports account explained:
"Due to the competitive integrity of this series being compromised, we have made the decision to postpone the [North America] finals at this time. We will share more information soon."
Contact Information for More Information
If you have any additional information about this hacking incident or other video game hacking incidents, please feel free to contact us securely:
* Signal: +1 917 257 1382 (Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai)
* Telegram/Keybase/Wire: @lorenzofb
* Email: lorenzo@techcrunch.com
Investigation Underway
At this point, it’s unclear exactly what happened. Electronic Arts, the publisher of Apex Legends, did not immediately respond to emails from TechCrunch requesting comment. Neither did Genburten and ImperialHal.
On Monday, the makers of the anti-cheat software used by the game released a statement addressing the incident:
"We are aware of the recent hacking incidents in the Apex Legends Global Series and are working closely with the game’s developers to identify and address the issue."
Implications for the Gaming Community
The implications of this hacking incident go beyond just the affected tournament. It raises concerns about the security measures in place to prevent cheating in online gaming, as well as the potential consequences for players who engage in such behavior.
As the investigation continues, one thing is clear: the esports industry must prioritize the integrity and security of its competitions to maintain the trust of its fans and participants.
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