Insomniac’s Wolverine spoilers seemingly leaked by ransomware attack
Like a technological terror plot you might expect to find in the upcoming GTA 6, it seems that Insomniac Games has been put over a barrel with a deadly ransomware attack. The gaming powerhouse is known for the Ratchet & Clank games, and now Spider-Man, with Marvel's Wolverine next on the docket.
First revealed back in 2021, Marvel's Wolverine got a glossy cinematic trailer, but that was it. Insomniac has been busy on Spider-Man 2, but with the clawed Canadian also skipping out on this year's The Game Awards, it's clear some of you have got tired of waiting. Still, blackmail...seriously?
Marvel's Wolverine seemingly hit by ransomware attack
Click to enlargeAs reported by Cyber Daily, Insomniac has been hit with a ransomware attack on its latest game, as some potentially massive Wolverine leaks have started doing the rounds online. As well as artwork of the man himself, the leak apparently reveals several other characters for the brutal superhero slasher.
Considering Insomniac has done well to keep a lid on all things Wolverine, we only know that the titular mutant will be part of things. To have beats like other characters spoiled this early would be a real shame for Insomniac. Still, there have been rumours that a certain wall-crawling hero could be stopping by.
A series of annotated screenshots and character models have apparently been sent over as proof of the hack, as well as passport scans for at least one ex-employee who's apparently been laid off. Worryingly, there's also a passport scan for what appears to be Spider-Man voice actor, Yuri Lowenthal.
Emils and signed confidential papers are also included in the dossier, with the Rhysida ransomware operator reportedly behind the attack. The Rhysida gang has given Insomniac seven days until it claims the leaks will be published, but it's also running an auction with a starting price of 50 bitcoins (around $2 million USD).
"With just 7 days on the clock, seize the opportunity to bid on exclusive, unique, and impressive data," says the Rhysida site. "Open your wallets and be ready to buy exclusive data. We sell only to one hand, no reselling, you will be the only owner!"
It's Cyberpunk and GTA 6 all over again
Click to enlargeYou might remember when Cyberpunk 2077 developer CD Projekt Red was hit with a similar attack, as someone actually gained access to the game's source code alongside the likes of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, then demanded millions. It actually led to a Cyberpunk 2077 update being delayed.
More recently, September 2022 saw Rockstar Games stuck by a massive leak. With GTA 6 being one of the most secretive games out there, we doubt Take-Two Interactive was impressed with hundreds of videos and screenshots making their way online.
Take-Two had already confirmed the leak was the real deal, and now that the GTA 6 trailer is out, we know major story spoilers like a return to Vice City and the playable Lucia were legitimate. The Wolverine leak definitely looks like it is legitimate, and if they've got Lowenthal's passport, it's even more likely.
Where Insomniac goes from here remains to be seen, but with the GTA 6 hacker ending up with the FBI on their case and quickly placed before the courts, those responsible could soon be smiling on the other side of their faces. If there's one man you don't want to mess with, it's Logan.
