A significant cyber attack on gaming giant Ubisoft forced the temporary shutdown of its popular tactical shooter, Rainbow Six Siege, over the weekend. Hackers gained control of core game systems and distributed vast sums of in-game currency, causing widespread disruption.
Servers Taken Offline After Systems Compromised
Ubisoft confirmed the security breach on Saturday, December 27, 2025. In response, the company took the drastic step of shutting down the game's servers and its in-game marketplace to investigate the extent of the intrusion. According to numerous player reports on social media platform X, the attackers managed to seize control of critical systems, including the game's ban functionality.
The most visible impact was the hackers' distribution of an estimated two billion units of Rainbow Six Siege's in-game currency. Based on standard exchange rates, this virtual windfall was roughly equivalent to a staggering £9.9 million in real-world value.
Rollback Reverses Illicit Transactions
Facing an economy in chaos, Ubisoft announced it would perform a complete 'rollback' of all transactions that occurred in the game from 11am UTC on December 27. In an update posted on the official Rainbow Six Siege X account, the company sought to reassure players, stating: 'Nobody will be banned for spending credits received.'
The technical process was completed over 24 hours later, on Monday, December 29, at which point the game servers were reopened to all players. However, the Rainbow Six Siege marketplace remains offline 'until further notice' as internal investigations continue.
Questions Over Scope and Broader Industry Trend
While Ubisoft has not officially confirmed the full scope of the hack, unverified rumours have circulated online claiming that up to 900GB of internal company data was accessed. This alleged data trove is said to include source code, development tools, and materials for both legacy and upcoming titles.
However, sources speaking to Insider Gaming have suggested these claims about a massive internal data breach have been 'blown way out of proportion' and may be untrue. The incident adds Ubisoft to a growing list of major game studios, including Insomniac and Rockstar, that have been targeted by hackers in recent years.
The breach occurs during a period of transition for Ubisoft. The company recently formed Vantage Studios, a new subsidiary in partnership with Chinese conglomerate Tencent, to house flagship franchises like Assassin's Creed and Rainbow Six. This move is part of a broader strategy to streamline operations and manage debt amid challenging market conditions.
