As the ALGS Split 2 Playoffs begin at the Copper Box Arena, EA is suspected to have suffered a disruptive DDoS attack due to its decision to host the LAN on public servers.
Only moments into game one, the gameplay was halted for over 20 minutes, with the broadcast left in the lurch.
A DDoS attack is a Distributed Denial-of-Service, where an online server is flooded with traffic, shutting it down and rendering it unusable. Live LAN tournaments are usually hosted on a designated LAN server. This protects the server from DDoS attacks or other disruptions.
However, EA has since responded to Esports News UK saying they had “on-site technical issues and no evidence of a DDoS attack”.
Regardless, some teams and players are still convinced that an attack/the online servers were to blame.
“The set-up is a joke. It’s not a LAN server, it’s online. We all said this would happen as soon as we found out.”
Anonymous source – affected ALGS team
Multiple teams expressed significant concerns over EA’s server decision in the lead-up to the event and suspected ALGS DDoS. The Split 1 Playoffs were hosted on a private tournament server, which did not leave the event vulnerable to attacks. However, it only took minutes for the flaws in EA’s Split 2 arrangements to be revealed.
EA is apparently hosting it online and not on a closed LAN server – it’s essentially a private part of a public server, so more vulnerable. Teams were alerted to this a few days ago and were not happy with the decision.
Staff from one of the affected teams commented: “The set-up is a joke. It’s not a LAN server, it’s online. We all said this would happen as soon as we found out.”
Others expressed frustration online. Many fans from Apex Legends’ most popular region, North America, have woken at 5am to watch the games, only to find them delayed.
London’s LAN has also been hit with connection issues, with the server briefly disconnecting during the day’s third game. Teams hope that EA will learn from their decision and return to LAN servers for the upcoming Championship in September.
The so-called ALGS DDoS / technical issues are a disappointing mark on what is set to be a highly competitive and entertaining LAN.
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Hannah is a writer specialising in the esports, gaming, and technology sectors. Working for companies such as Lionscreed Esports, Esports Insider, and SideQuest Hub she has developed a love for wider esports and Apex Legends, although it may never surpass her drive to passionately beat her friends in every game of Mariokart. You may have seen her at various esports and gaming events, including ESI London, EGX, Discover: Esports and many League of Legends watch parties.
