LCK resorts to pre-recorded games for Week 6 after returning DDoS attacks

Last week, the LCK Spring Week 5 Game between DRX and Dplus KIA was targetted by DDoS attackers. The attack resulted in an eight-hour technical delay to the game. It also led to the postponement of the second and final game of Week 5.

LCK apologized to the fans regarding the issues. They issued refunds to the attendees and communicated with the players about the games. In another statement, LCK also warned fans about another possible attack. They assured the fans that the staff is preparing for the attack and will try to deter future attempts.

The statement also introduced new response protocols for future incidents. The response protocols include prompt communication to the fans in case of game cancellation, refunds and player communications.

The community breathed a sigh of relief when the first game of Week 6 concluded without a problem. It seemed as if the dark days were behind us. Unfortunately, the attacker returned, this time interrupting the T1 vs. FearX game, resulting in postponement.

The game was played behind the closed doors and later a pre-recorded game was broadcasted. The continuous attacks have also forced the LCK to pre-record and broadcast the rest of the Week 6 games, as the staff works towards identifying the culprit and eliminating the issues permanently.

The fans that had purchased the tickets will be issued a complete refund.

What is a DDoS attack? How did it affect the LCK games?

For those unfamiliar, most online games, such as League of Legends and Valorant, operate on a Server-Client model. Players interact with the game server through a game client, exchanging information about actions and movements.

A DDoS or Distributed Denial of Service attack that attempts to disrupt the information sharing. The way an attacker does it is they overflood the server with unnecessary information, leading to a delay in the transmission of the crucial information.

While we do not know about the LCK’s network infrastructure, it is compromised to say the least. An attacker is able to somehow surpass the protective layers and continually overflood the servers with requests leading to ping issues for the players.

These operational issues affecting the biggest esports league in the world does not paint a good picture. The inability to promptly respond to such a threat is the LCK’s fault.

The interruption not only affects the players but also the fan experience, and cannot be allowed to impact the LCK any further. The interruptions also strains the economical and logistical resources of the league itself. The staff needs to effectively eliminate the threat before the live action resumes next week.

Feature Image Credits: LCK // Riot Games

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