Presentation
On March 10, 2026, Pierre-Xavier Chomiac de Sas appeared on the Lex Inside program to discuss the legal risks and challenges regarding cybersecurity facing video game industry professionals. He was pleased to speak once again with Arnaud Dumourier on Lex Inside about issues related to digital law. This appearance follows the firm’s previous interviews, which notably covered video game law and esports contracts.
View an overview of our previous appearances.
PCS Avocat’s discussion focused on the specific characteristics of the video game sector—a prime target for cyberattacks—as well as the practices that heighten these risks, the consequences for players and professionals, the legal avenues for defense, and the measures studios can take to protect themselves and combat these threats.
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xa1stt4
Cybersecurity and Video Games: Why Is the Sector a Prime Target?
The video game sector is inherently digital, sitting at the intersection of software, diverse artistic content, and online service delivery. With an industry valuation projected to exceed $200 billion by 2025, it is an obvious target for cybercrime.
However, the link between video games and cyberattacks is long-standing, even though a sharp rise in cyberattacks has been observed in recent years—particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Read our overview of the various cyberattacks targeting the video game industry.
The evolution of the video game sector and gaming practices over recent decades has inevitably led to a significant increase in cyber risk. Indeed, the complexity and richness of a video game can multiply the associated threats:
Game platforms and formats: Developing games for PC or mobile platforms, the requirement for an internet connection to access or play, the massively multiplayer nature of games, the integration of online chat tools and other communication features, and the inclusion of hyperlinks and APIs connecting to social networks and third-party platforms—all these elements contribute to heightened exposure to the risk of cyberattacks.
Game business models: The diversity of modern video game monetization systems—such as modding, DLC, early access, and continuous game updates—can compromise the integrity of the underlying code, creating vulnerabilities that malicious actors can exploit.
Similarly, the integration of microtransactions, virtual currencies, resaleable items, the valuation of digital assets, and the handling of banking data point to massive, continuous financial flows within the sector, making it a particularly attractive target.
Game popularity: Finally, the size of a game’s player base, its promotion by influencers, and the existence of esports competitions all increase its visibility to potential cyberattackers.
Cyberattacks and Video Games: A Wide Range of Attacks and Victims
The video game ecosystem involves a diverse array of stakeholders, any of whom may be exposed to cyberattacks: studios, publishers, distribution platforms, players, influencers and promotional partners, esports athletes and professionals, communities, and indirect consumers of generated gaming content.
Consequently, the victim profiles are highly varied, leading to a wide range of attack types—spanning consumers and professionals, child, adolescent, and adult players, as well as startups and major corporations or platforms.
In light of these factors, statistics on cyberattacks reveal a diversification of tactics. While historically focused on game piracy and player-oriented cheating tools, attacks today directly target the economic value derived from video game operations—such as microtransactions, subscriptions, and personal data—with the aim of destabilizing stakeholders or securing monetizable gains.
Cyberattacks and Video Games: Disastrous Consequences
Often poorly identified or understood, cyberattacks have varied and severe consequences for both professional and consumer victims.
First, a cyberattack on a video game grants perpetrators access to vast amounts of data: identification details, technical data, payment information, in-game data, social data, and more.
Furthermore, as video games are consumer goods or services, a cyberattack targeting either the publisher or the player can render the game inaccessible, resulting in a loss of enjoyment. This loss affects not only the game itself but also the player’s progress and financial investments.
Indeed, compromised player accounts frequently entail varying degrees of financial loss; the theft of accounts and in-game items—particularly older accounts where players may have spent significant sums on in-game purchases, regardless of the user’s actual ownership status regarding that content—represents a significant associated loss.
For publishers and studios, a cyberattack on one of their games can have critical consequences: it may undermine the game’s appeal to users or disrupt its balance, leading to a drop in profitability.
Professionals must also consider the legal risks associated with misconduct, negligence, or non-compliance with applicable regulations (such as NIS, GDPR, DFA, DSA, etc.).
Video Game Law and Cybersecurity: Prosecuting Perpetrators
As the sector is digital and primarily intangible, the prosecution of perpetrators can be pursued on various legal grounds and at multiple levels, notably criminal and civil.
“Classic” criminal offenses naturally apply in a number of cases without requiring adaptation to the digital context: theft, identity theft, invasion of privacy, counterfeiting, cyberharassment, fraud, extortion, etc.
Digital criminal law has evolved over time to introduce offenses specific to the sector: unauthorized access to, interference with, or disruption of automated data processing systems; mob-style cyberharassment; etc.
Prosecuting cyberattackers—particularly when the manipulation of game elements is involved—can also be approached through the lens of counterfeiting and intellectual property protection.
At an operational level, industry professionals are developing digital tracking tools to support specialized investigative units that have significantly strengthened their capabilities—such as the BEFTI, OFAC, SDLC, C3N, the J3 section of the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the CNIL—alongside a national push to bolster international cooperation among agencies, extending well beyond the scope of video games alone.
Consequences: perpetrators—whether acting alone or in groups—are regularly identified, prosecuted, and even convicted, although they unfortunately represent only a tiny fraction of the total number of cyberattackers.
Video Game Studios & Professionals: How to Protect Against Cyberattacks?
Video game industry professionals are required to comply with various national and—crucially—European regulations to ensure the best possible protection for their systems and information.
Key areas include content compliance, technical security (including “security by design” and data protection under GDPR), and incident response capabilities.
Implementing cyber governance involves technical measures, specialized insurance, staff training, and compliance with regulations such as NIS 2, GDPR, and others.
An Opportunity. Beyond the constraints imposed by regulatory requirements, implementing these measures can also be viewed as an opportunity for studios and other professionals. Indeed, the process of evaluating and deploying tools to ensure optimal cybersecurity for their assets helps to:
- Protect revenue generated by their games;
- Secure the player experience;
- Safeguard the reputation of franchises and brands;
- Secure partnerships and investments;
- Avoid penalties.
Cybersecurity and Video Games – Digital Law Specialist
Cyberattacks are a reality for video game industry players; consequently, cybersecurity is no longer an option that can be overlooked. It is a crucial component of the legal and operational strategies of studios, publishers, and platforms.
Anticipating these risks means protecting both the economic value of the games and player trust.
PCS Avocat assists studios, publishers, and platforms in the video game sector with all aspects of digital compliance, GDPR, NIS 2, and cyber risk management.
