Insomniac Games finally released a statement regarding the ransomware incident that leaked over a million files, including playable assets of the Wolverine video game. The leak happened after the studio failed to pay the hacker’s 50 Bitcoin (BTC) ultimatum.
Insomniac Games Official Statement
In an X post on December 22, Insomniac Games thanked the people who expressed their “compassion and unwavering support” following the cyber-attack. The studio said it was both “saddened and angered” over the incident which has taken an emotional toll on their development team.
The company confirmed that the data theft and subsequent leak contained sensitive information belonging to their current and former employees as well as independent contractors. The tech firm also revealed that the recent leaks of Marvel’s Wolverine for PlayStation 5 stemmed from the hacking event.
In light of these, the tech firm assured that “like Logan… Insomniac is resilient” and the development of the Wolverine video game would continue as planned. It cleared out that the game is still in its early production phase so it’s still subject to changes.
“While we appreciate everyone’s enthusiasm, we will share official information about Marvel’s Wolverine when the time is right,” Insomniac promised its legion of fans. “On behalf of everyone at Insomniac, thank you for your ongoing support during this challenging time.”
The Insomniac Games Hacking Incident
Insomniac Games didn’t divulge much detail on the affair, but reports say the hackers stole around 1.3 million documents. Although not mentioned in its official statement, the files even had a playable build for the upcoming Wolverine game.
The Rhysidia hacking outfit claimed responsibility for the ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) used for the attack. It demanded 50 BTC worth $2 million at the time of the crime as ransom to prevent the stolen data from being leaked to the public. Upon failure to settle the said sum, the files were then auctioned on the dark web and it resulted in 98% of the stolen files being released online.
The Leaked Files
The sensitive information exposed Insomniac’s $120 million budget for each game from Sony and net profits expected for Wolverine, Spider-Man 2, and Spider-Man 3 ranging from $75 million to $170 million. Additionally, it detailed the setting and gameplay of the upcoming Venom game featuring Carnage. Furthermore, it disclosed Insomiac’s exclusivity to produce standalone X-Men video game titles until 2035.
For damage control, the company warned of possible legal action against pirates downloading the stolen assets of the game and individuals capitalizing on the spoilers. Besides that, the developer cautioned that the pre-built game coming from the attackers could also contain an implanted malware.
Marvel’s Wolverine for PlayStation 5
Based on the leaks, the Wolverine game’s alpha build for the PS5 is slated for 2025 while its beta and full releases are scheduled in 2026. It will feature the titular X-Men character in a third-person point of view (POV) where players can use his claws for fighting and climbing buildings as well as his heightened senses for detecting enemies.