Elite Dangerous is facing a major crisis due to a hacker, Commander Big Chungus 40k, who has exploited administrative functions to disrupt gameplay, including spawning unauthorized entities, renaming in-game assets, and exposing players’ IP addresses, while causing server instability. The incident exposes serious security vulnerabilities in the game’s backend, prompting concerns over potential data rollbacks and calls for stronger protections and developer communication.
Elite Dangerous is currently experiencing a significant crisis due to a hacker known as Commander Big Chungus 40k, who has gained unauthorized access to several administrative functions within the game. This individual has been actively griefing players by spawning a hydra in a major community station and flying a Corvette equipped with Mark 2 drives—an upgrade normally not compatible with that ship class—while using shutdown field neutralizers, a capability typically restricted to a different ship type. Beyond direct player harassment, the hacker has caused widespread disruption by renaming carriers, entire star systems, and interfering with colonization mechanics, leading to a host of gameplay issues.
In addition to these in-game disruptions, the game’s servers are suffering from severe instability, with many players experiencing repeated disconnections and difficulties logging in. Although it remains unclear if the server issues are directly linked to the hacking incident, the instability is significant enough to impact overall gameplay. The game is still somewhat accessible, but the experience is erratic, and there is growing concern that a rollback of game data might be necessary to undo the damage caused by the hacker’s actions.
This incident raises broader concerns about the security infrastructure of Elite Dangerous. The fact that a single individual could access and manipulate critical game functions such as renaming stations and altering colonization parameters suggests fundamental vulnerabilities in the game’s entitlement and security systems. Addressing these issues may require more than just banning the offending commander; it could involve a comprehensive review and overhaul of the game’s backend security to prevent future breaches.
The hacker has also been engaging in troubling behavior outside typical gameplay disruption, including posting players’ public IP addresses in system chat using an administrative account. This action exposes players to potential privacy risks and adds a layer of seriousness to the incident. The timing of the attack appears to be deliberate, occurring late on a Friday night when Frontier Developments’ staff are likely offline, maximizing the potential impact and disruption during peak player activity over the weekend.
As of now, Frontier Developments has remained silent on the issue, with no official response or updates provided. The community is advised that any in-game actions taken during this period could be subject to revision or rollback once the situation is resolved. The incident highlights the need for stronger security measures and more proactive communication from the developers in crisis situations. Players and fans are closely monitoring the situation, awaiting further news on how Frontier plans to address the hacking and restore stability to Elite Dangerous.