Video Game Hacking, Modding and Security

Video Game Hacking, Modding and Security Spiel und Informatik III Eduardo Augusto Esqueche Larrabure

AI5 – Visual Computing Universität Bayreuth

January 30, 2018

Abstract This document tries to give an overview of the video game hacking, cracking and modification (modding) activities, common in the video game industry and a constant issue between hackers and official video game and console publishers. This research allows the reader to have, first, a general overview of the actors in the game cracking industry, such as Warez communities, while defining relevant terms for the phenomenon. As well, it gives a short summary of the video game hacking history so far and the current state of the activity, where a duality between hardware modification and online services security is present. The reader also gets a glimpse of the most common hacking techniques for video games and consoles, while showing also countermeasures taken by game publishers, such as banning and blacklisting. At last, this research describes the video game hacking and cracking phenomenon in emerging and low-income markets, and how it acts as a facilitator of video game content, while showing, on the other site, how official game platforms have approached the issue.

1. Introduction

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2. Chapter 1 Terms and Project Relevance

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1.1.

1.2.

Definition of Terms ........................................................................................................3 1.1.1.

Game Licenses and Security ..................................................................................3

1.1.2.

Game Exploits and Exploiting ...............................................................................3

1.1.3.

Game Hacking .......................................................................................................4

1.1.4.

Keygens or Key Generators ...................................................................................5

Importance for Game Project .........................................................................................6 1.2.1.

Project Goals .........................................................................................................6

1.2.2.

Project’s possible risks to avoid ............................................................................6

3. Chapter 2 Actual State of (Mobile) Game Hacking

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2.1. Short History of Game Hacking and Modding .....................................................................7 2.2. Contemporary Game Cracking and Security Measures ........................................................8 2.2.1 Denuvo as Example for Game License Security .........................................................9 2.2.2. Game Cracking “Warez Groups”: Codex, CPY and Skidrow ....................................9 2.2.3. System Updates, Patches and Heuristic Detection of Game Cracks .........................10 2.3. Cracked vs. Genuine Games...............................................................................................11 2.3.1. Most Cracked Games................................................................................................11 2.3.2. Crack-Secure Games ................................................................................................11 2.4 Game Cracks in the Game Industry .....................................................................................12 2.4.1. Monetary Loss ..........................................................................................................12 2.4.2. Other Impacts on Game Industry ..............................................................................13 4. Chapter 3: (Mobile) Game Hacking

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3.1. Sources ...............................................................................................................................14 3.1.1. Github .......................................................................................................................14 3.1.2. Crackwatch ...............................................................................................................15 3.1.3. GbaTemp ..................................................................................................................16 3.2. Code ...................................................................................................................................17 3.2.1. Creating dummy license profiles for cracked games ................................................18 3.2.2. Injecting Scripts into game license code: patches.....................................................18 3.2.3. Key generation (keygens) for games and apps .........................................................18 3.2.4. Version and build release conditions ........................................................................18 3.3. Countermeasures from Developers ....................................................................................18 3.3.1. Patch releases and code ............................................................................................18 3.3.2. Game and Console Banning .....................................................................................20 3.3.3. Blacklists for User Profiles and Device ID’s ............................................................21 5. Chapter 4: Professional and Ethical Considerations

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4.1. Game Cracking for Private or Business Purposes ..............................................................23 4.2. Game Cracking for Software Democracy...........................................................................25 4.3. Considerations in Emerging or Limited Game Markets .....................................................26