Safeguarding the Next Generation of Wraeclast in Path of Exile 2
The Challenge: Protecting a Deeply Complex World from Exploits
Path of Exile is legendary for its depth, intricate systems, and massive, dedicated community. When Grinding Gear Games and Tencent began building Path of Exile 2, they weren’t just creating a new game; they were crafting a new foundation for a universe that players would spend thousands of hours in. For a hardcore Action RPG of this scale, where loot, character progression, and a player driven economy are everything, security isn’t just a priority – it’s the core to maintaining the game’s integrity.
A single exploit or vulnerability could devastate the game’s balance and player trust. Grinding Gear Games needed a partner who could dive into the very heart of their gameplay services to find and eliminate weaknesses before launch. Their challenge was to ensure that their most critical systems were completely secure, from the core client binary to every interaction between the player and the server.
The Cyrex Solution: A Deep Dive into Gameplay Mechanics
Cyrex partnered with Grinding Gear Games and Tencent to perform a highly focused penetration test of Path of Exile 2’s gameplay services. Our mission was not just to find generic bugs, but to uncover any potential vulnerabilities that could directly impact the player experience and game economy.
Our service was highly specialized and involved:
- Targeted Gameplay Service Validation: Our senior security engineers examined hundreds of different client to server RPCs (Remote Procedure Calls) related to core gameplay. We took on a hacker’s mindset to see if we could tamper with these critical communications, ensuring that every action—from a skill being cast to an item being picked up—was validated and secure.
- Seamless Integration and R&D: We conducted dedicated research and development to make sure our testing tools and methods integrated perfectly with the game’s unique networking services. This proactive step allowed us to test with precision and accuracy, going far beyond a standard security check.
- Client Side Security Assessment: We also performed a deep analysis of the game’s client side implementations. This crucial step helped us identify any vulnerabilities within the game’s binary itself that could be exploited to manipulate the game or create cheats.
The Outcome: Uncompromised Integrity for a New Era
Through Cyrex’s dedicated penetration testing, Grinding Gear Games gained the confidence that Path of Exile 2’s core gameplay would be secure and fair for its global audience. Our collaboration helped them achieve:
- Bulletproof Gameplay Integrity: We helped them find and fix critical vulnerabilities in their gameplay services, protecting the in-game economy and ensuring every player’s progression was earned legitimately.
- Enhanced Client Side Security: By validating the game’s binary, we helped them build a strong defense against client side manipulation and cheating.
- Confidence for a Global Launch: With a comprehensive security assessment, Grinding Gear Games could prepare for a massive launch, knowing that the foundation of their new game was secure and ready to withstand the scrutiny of millions of players.
Cyrex is proud to have played a part in safeguarding the next chapter of Path of Exile, ensuring that the legacy of Wraeclast remains a fair and challenging world for all who venture into it. Ready to ensure your game’s integrity is uncompromised? Contact us to learn more about our penetration testing services.