Daily Briefing: Wednesday 9th February

FromSoftware are fixing that Dark Souls PC exploit

A wee while ago we reported on a dangerous Remote Code Execution (RCE) exploit currently plaguing the PC version of Dark Souls III. The potential security vulnerability could be exploited by abusers and used to gain access to other players’ PCs, at which point they could do anything from install malware to steal personal data. We learned from various community commentary that exploits of this kind have existed across the entire Dark Souls franchise on PC, and the same server structure is being used for Elden Ring.

• Developers FromSoftware and publisher Bandai Namco were reportedly pretty unreceptive to various reports of the exploits before taking the entire Dark Souls server infrastructure offline for a fix. That fix is now on the way, with FromSoftware and Bandai Namco confirming that they have “identified the cause and are working on fixing the issue.” However, competitive multiplayer won’t be returning to the PC versions of the Dark Souls games for the foreseeable future. At least Elden Ring is being secured, with the two companies confirming that they “have made sure the necessary security measures are in place for this title on all target platforms.”

Ubisoft are squeezing out a new Assassin’s Creed game

That’s according to a new report from Bloomberg which, quoting the usual sources familiar with goings-on, suggests that a smaller, more stealth focused Assassin’s Creed game is set to release this year or early in 2023 - so before the upcoming experimental, evolving Assassin’s Creed Unity. The game is reportedly codenamed Rift and will star Basim, an assassin character from Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

• According to Bloomberg, Rift was originally intended to be another expansion for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, but will now be spun out into a full-blown boxed release, presumably as an attempt by Ubisoft to grab some rare good PR and stem the talent exodus currently plaguing the company. Ubisoft don’t really want to talk about this new wave of speculation, telling Bloomberg in a statement that they don’t comment on rumours “as they do a disservice to our development teams and community.” So there you go.