Hackers Injected Horrific and Epilepsy-Inducing Videos During StarCraft II Matches

StarCraft II players have taken to Reddit to reveal that hackers have been targeting the game for some time in a very frightening way. Unknown attackers have figured out a way to inject graphic, disturbing content into online multiplayer matches, leaving players deeply unsettled by the content.

According to recent reports on Reddit covered by 404media, the attackers have found a way to abuse the Arcade Mode in StarCraft II. This particular mode lets users create and share custom game maps.

Hackers inserted disturbing materials that included real-life mass shooting videos and images specifically designed to induce seizures in people with epilepsy.

What players are experiencing

For affected StarCraft II players, the exploit unfolds as follows:

• Players select a game from the Arcade mode, which features user-created maps and various game types.
• Upon loading, the game shows no immediate signs of anything suspicious.
• Midway through the match or sometimes immediately after starting, graphic videos or flashing imagery begin to play unexpectedly. Players are forced to exit the match just to stop the videos.

"I thought I was just jumping into a regular match. Next thing I knew, I was staring at something horrifying," said a Reddit user.

Blizzard's response

The same user who raised the issue on Reddit noted that Blizzard Entertainment acknowledged the problem, and a representative explained that they are closing the exploit.

"We are working to fix the exploit we believe might have been used by certain players to upload content that violates our policies," said the Blizzard Comms Team.

"We take the safety of our players and our platform very seriously. The inappropriate content is being removed, and the responsible parties have been banned. To prevent additional policy violations, we have temporarily disabled the ability for players to upload new maps and mods through the SC2 Map Editor while we work on a permanent fix."

Starcraft II players are urged to immediately report any suspicious or alarming content directly through Blizzard's official channels and to be careful when dealing with user-generated content.