A Source Engine source code leak for from Valve’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive broadly went public on Wednesday, April 22. The Source Engine functions as the spine for games like CS: GO, Team Fortress 2, and Dota 2.
The source code leak, which popped up online, could potentially ruin anti-cheat security in many video games. This lead to grave concerns from players that the game would be exploited and exposed to cheats. Meanwhile, few community creators shut down servers on fear of obscure code execution exploits.
Amid the rumors of potential in-game exploits, Valve eventually stepped in to assure its player-base. The developers dismissed the claims and affirmed the current source code build’s integrity.
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Valve Address CS: GO Source Code Leak
After the source code leaks unsettled the CS: GO and TF2 player-base, Valve stepped in to clear the air. The official Twitter account for CS: GO revealed the leaked code dates back to 2017 and confined to a version shared with its partners. They also claimed the original leak is from 2018, and players don’t need to be “alarmed and avoid the current builds.”
We have reviewed the leaked code and believe it to be a reposting of a limited CS:GO engine code depot released to partners in late 2017, and originally leaked in 2018. From this review, we have not found any reason for players to be alarmed or avoid the current builds.
— CS:GO (@CSGO) April 22, 2020
Valve also advised its players to stick to playing on their official servers and promised further updates on the matter. Meanwhile, the video game developer is investigating the incident and asked users to report any information on who’s behind the leak via the Valve security page.
We will continue to investigate the situation and will update news outlets and players if we find anything to prove otherwise. In the meantime, if anyone has more information about the leak, the Valve security page (next tweet) describes how best to report that information.
— CS:GO (@CSGO) April 22, 2020
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Who Could Possibly Be Behind The Source Code Leak?
Tyler McVicker, the creator of the Valve News Network, said he knew who was behind the leak on his Twitter account. He mentioned he plans to report the person responsible for the leaks to Valve’s legal department. Tyler also spoke about the events leading to the source code leak on a Twitch stream.
According to Jaycie Erysdren, Valve Archive Curator, the CS: GO source code went public after a member of the Source Engine modding community allegedly leaked it.
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At this point, it is not specific as to who was behind the leak. Let’s wait and watch for any official word on the issue.
One specific thing, though, is that during the coronavirus lockdown, the last thing gamers need is their favorite games being DDoSed or its source code leaked.
