Gcore Radar Report 2025: Gaming Platforms Under Siege from Sophisticated DDoS Attacks

Executive Summary

The recent Gcore radar report highlights a significant shift where the gaming industry has overtaken traditional sectors as the top target for DDoS attacks. The report reveals that cyber adversaries are increasingly exploiting vulnerabilities in gaming infrastructures through automated botnets and sophisticated attack techniques. This detailed report provides an introduction to the latest insights on attack methodologies, an in-depth technical analysis, an evaluation from a cybersecurity perspective, and an overview of how Rescana can help organizations manage third-party risks effectively.

Introduction

The evolving landscape of cyberattacks has been dramatically shaped by the growing interconnections in modern digital services. The gaming industry, with its reliance on scalable cloud solutions, multiple third-party integrations, and rapid innovation in infrastructure, is now more exposed than ever to volumetric and automated DDoS attacks. The insights provided by the Gcore radar report indicate that weak security controls and dependencies on numerous external vendors have made gaming platforms a highly lucrative target. This report delves into the technical details of these attack vectors, the practical challenges posed by supply chain integrations, and the broader cybersecurity implications for both attackers and defenders.

Detailed Analysis

The technical findings indicate that attackers are using automated botnets in combination with sophisticated attack scripts to exploit vulnerabilities in gaming networks, which often leverage flexible and agile cloud architectures. The integration of services provided by external vendors, including content delivery networks (CDNs) and cloud service providers, has expanded the attack surface, allowing threat actors to overwhelm even robust, scalable infrastructures. In practice, the confluence of high user engagement and seamless integration with third-party systems introduces system interdependencies, which are readily exploited by adversaries. This vulnerability is magnified by the fact that many gaming companies do not maintain robust security measures across all integration points, thereby exposing not only the primary gaming engines but also the associated supply chain. Furthermore, the dependence on diverse vendor security postures contributes to delays in incident response and complicates compliance with evolving security standards. The analysis emphasizes that current defense mechanisms, while advanced, are often insufficient to fully counter the dynamic nature of these volumetric DDoS attacks.

Cyber Perspective

From a cybersecurity standpoint, the transformation of the gaming industry into a primary target for DDoS attacks presents both opportunities and challenges for cyber attackers and defenders. Adversaries can leverage the extensive use of third-party integrations as a means to gain unauthorized access to centralized gaming platforms, potentially creating backdoor channels for further exploitation. Meanwhile, defenders face the critical challenge of implementing comprehensive monitoring solutions that extend from core infrastructures to peripheral vendor-managed services. Enhanced threat intelligence, real-time response mechanisms, and integrated security frameworks that enforce stringent vendor accountability are essential. The continuous evolution of attack techniques necessitates that both attackers and defenders remain agile; adversaries refine their methods while security teams must adopt robust, adaptive controls to mitigate risks and preserve service availability under high-pressure conditions.

About Rescana

At Rescana, we recognize the critical importance of managing third-party risk in an increasingly interconnected digital ecosystem. Our specialized TPRM platform helps organizations identify, assess, and mitigate risks across their vendor networks, ensuring that vulnerabilities do not compromise operational integrity or expose sensitive data. With our extensive experience in delivering innovative security solutions, we empower businesses to maintain a strong defense posture and navigate the complex challenges of modern cybersecurity. We are happy to answer questions at ops@rescana.com.