After a shower of good news for FromSoftware since the explosive launch of the Elden Ring DLC, terrible news hits the Japanese studio, but not only that.
The talented Japanese studio behind Elden Ring is not the only one concerned by this news, since it specifically affects its owner, Kadokawa. Things could take a dark turn very soon.
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Studio owner behind Elden Ring hit by ransomware attack
Black Suit, a ransomware group, has claimed responsibility for an attack on Kadokawa, a Japanese entertainment company. This notably owns FromSoftware, the studio to which we owe, among other exceptional games, the brilliant Elden Ring and its recent DLC Shadow of the World Tree. The group is particularly known for the attack on CDK Global, an automotive software program affecting 15,000 North American residents.
Black Suit claims to have stolen 1.5 TB of data from the owner of FromSoftware. Beyond potential revelations about Elden Ring and the studio's future productions, it is mainly the personal data of the studio's employees and other companies owned by Kadokawa that are in danger. The group indicates that it has stolen ” personal information, payments, contracts, emails, as well as presentations and code “.
Very personal data in imminent danger?
The group is threatening to make its findings public on July 1 unless Kadokawa pays a high enough ransom, which has not been specified. “ Since we are business people, the only thing that interests us is money. Kadokawa tries to make a deal, but the amount offered is extremely low for such a company “, Black Suit says in an unequivocal tone.
“ The people affected certainly wouldn't want the world to know what they do at night, or their search history. For now, confidential details of the lives of many Japanese citizens depend on Kadokawa's decision. It would be easier for them to pay and move forward. Rather than spending months bowing down to apologize ” So it seems that the threat is very real, with the owner of the studio behind Elden Ring having already started negotiations. Let's hope, however, that the situation will find a happy ending, for the sake of the many people affected by this ransomware attack with potentially disastrous consequences.
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