Can’t get into Eorzea? It’s probably because of an FFXIV DDoS Attack.
The latest wave of DDoS attacks hit FFXIV data centers, causing large-scale network issues preventing players from logging into the critically-acclaimed MMORPG.
The developers posted an update on the official Square Enix ‘Lodestone” page to inform players who may be affected. These kinds of attacks are usually rare. But the award-winning MMO has seen a surge of attacks that’s lasted months.
Here’s everything you need to know about the present situation on the latest FFXIV DDoS Attack.
FFXIV DDoS Attack Details
The last wave of DDoS attacks hit FFXIV servers for two straight days (August 9-10).
According to the official posts on FFXIV’s website, the attacks caused log-in delays and large-scale disconnections during that time. Player data transfers from the NA, EU, Japan and Oceania were also affected. And this hasn’t been the first time.
The Japanese MMO has been besieged by lengthy DDoS attacks since early May. But with the devs working in tandem with ISPs, the situation is mostly under control.
In an interview, Game Director Naoki Yoshida told PC Gamer that the game’s developers were “working both internally and externally to figure out how to squash the attacks.”
Yoshida also said that the teams were working in 24/7 rotating shifts to protect Final Fantasy 14 from the worst, like the brutal FFXIV DDoS Attack that led to a 25-hour shutdown around the same time.
You can watch the complete Letter from the Producer livestream from May below!
What Is A DDoS Attack?
Distributed denial-of-service, or ‘DDoS’ is a cybercrime in which an attacker floods servers with internet traffic. This prevents people from accessing the service/site or shuts it down completely by overloading the servers.
DDoS disconnects can be especially painful in MMORPGs like Final Fantasy 14, where players who reach endgame content constantly grind for big rewards. Here, progress can take hours. And an abrupt log-out screen can kill the mood.
Unfortunately, these malicious attacks can be commonplace in online multiplayer gaming, especially when the developers don’t have robust security software in place.
Final Thoughts
With the latest expansion Dawntrail in full swing (and numerous graphics overhauls), it makes sense that the devs would want things running smoothly. But things are only going to get worse if they don’t figure out an airtight solution with the ISPs.
These large-scale issues can also impact the number of people who’d be willing to try FFXIV. For all the game’s achievements, if a player keeps getting booted out of their dungeons, it’d be tough convincing them to keep playing.
That said, the FFXIV team has made strides in securing servers so far.
According to the FFXIV’s director, their efforts have kept disconnects to 1000-2000 instances “at any given time”. There hasn’t been any critical damage done to the game’s infrastructure. And hopefully, it never will.
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