Cyber Incident Victim: Overwatch 2
Date:
Oct 2022
Location:
United States of America
Summary
A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack targeted game servers, causing widespread connection instability and player disconnections during a high-traffic launch period. The incident prompted immediate mitigation efforts by response teams working to stabilize infrastructure amid significant player demand. Server accessibility issues persisted as technical personnel addressed the attack's impact on network operations.
| CIA Posture | Motives | Tactics, Techniques & Procedures |
|---|---|---|
| Available to members | 0 motives | 1 technique |
| Threat Actors | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 0 actors | Available to members | Available to members |
Description
On October 4, 2022, Blizzard Entertainment experienced a mass distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack targeting Overwatch 2 servers shortly after the game's launch. The attack disrupted server operations, causing widespread connection instability and player disconnections during initial access periods. Mike Ybarra, Blizzard's executive, publicly confirmed the incident via social media, stating teams were actively mitigating the attack while managing resultant server issues. This disruption occurred amid high player demand for the newly released title, compounding operational challenges as infrastructure strained under legitimate traffic volumes.
Blizzard's security and engineering teams prioritized attack mitigation while addressing secondary server performance problems exacerbated by the DDoS incident. Ybarra acknowledged player frustration regarding connection failures but emphasized ongoing efforts to stabilize systems. The company maintained public communication through real-time updates, citing continued focus on restoring service availability without specifying attack duration or technical countermeasures deployed. Server issues persisted alongside mitigation work, with no immediate resolution timeline provided. Player log-in attempts and matchmaking functions remained intermittently affected throughout the incident response period. Blizzard concluded communications by thanking players for their patience while reiterating commitment to resolving outstanding server instability issues.