The rise of DDoS attacks on Minecraft and gaming

The gaming industry is a prime target for distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which flood servers with malicious traffic to disrupt gameplay. These attacks can cause server outages, leading to player frustration, and financial losses.

Minecraft, one of the world’s most popular games with 166 million monthly players, is no exception. But this isn’t just a Minecraft problem. From Call of Duty to GTA, gaming servers worldwide face relentless DDoS attacks as the most-targeted industry, costing game publishers and server operators millions in lost revenue.

This article explores what’s driving this surge in gaming-related DDoS attacks, and what lessons can be learned from Minecraft’s experience.

How DDoS attacks have disrupted Minecraft

Minecraft’s open-ended nature makes it a prime testing ground for cyberattacks. Over the years, major Minecraft servers have been taken down by large-scale DDoS incidents:

• MCCrash botnet attack: A cross-platform botnet targeted private Minecraft servers, crashing thousands of them in minutes.
• Wynncraft MC DDoS attack: A Mirai botnet variant launched a multi-terabit DDoS attack on a large Minecraft server. Players could not connect, disrupting gameplay and forcing the server operators to deploy emergency mitigation efforts to restore service.
• SquidCraft Game attack: DDoS attackers disrupted a Twitch Rivals tournament, cutting off an entire competing team.

Why are Minecraft servers frequent DDoS targets?

DDoS attacks are widespread in the gaming industry, but certain factors make gaming servers especially vulnerable. Unlike other online services, where brief slowdowns might go unnoticed, even a few milliseconds of lag in a competitive game can ruin the experience. Attackers take advantage of this reliance on stability, using DDoS attacks to create chaos, gain an unfair edge, or even extort victims.

Gaming communities rely on always-on availability

Unlike traditional online services, multiplayer games require real-time responsiveness. A few seconds of lag can ruin a match, and server downtime can send frustrated players to competitors. Attackers exploit this pressure, launching DDoS attacks to disrupt gameplay, extort payments, or damage reputations.

How competitive gaming fuels DDoS attacks

Unlike other industries where cybercriminals seek financial gain, many gaming DDoS attacks are fueled by rivalry. Attackers might:

• Sabotage online tournaments by forcing competitors offline.
• Target popular streamers, making their live games unplayable.
• Attack rival servers to drive players elsewhere.

Minecraft has seen all of these scenarios play out.

The rise of DDoS-for-hire services

DDoS attacks used to require technical expertise. Now, DDoS-as-a-service platforms offer attacks for as little as $10 per hour, making it easier than ever to disrupt gaming servers. The increasing accessibility of these attacks is a growing concern, especially as large-scale incidents continue to emerge.

How gaming companies can defend against DDoS attacks

While attacks are becoming more sophisticated, effective defenses do exist. By implementing proactive security measures, gaming companies can minimize risks and maintain uninterrupted gameplay for customers. Here are four key strategies to protect gaming servers from DDoS attacks.

#1 Deploy always-on DDoS protection

Game publishers and server operators need real-time, automated DDoS mitigation. Gcore DDoS Protection analyzes traffic patterns, filters malicious requests, and keeps gaming servers online, even during an attack. In July 2024, Gcore mitigated a massive 1 Tbps DDoS attack on Minecraft servers, highlighting how gaming platforms remain prime targets. While the exact source of such attacks isn’t always straightforward, their frequency and intensity reinforce the need for robust security measures to protect gaming communities from service disruptions.

#2 Strengthen network security

Gaming companies can reduce attack surfaces in the following ways:

• Using rate limiting to block excessive requests
• Implementing firewalls and intrusion detection systems
• Obfuscating server IPs to prevent attackers from finding them

#3 Educate players and moderators

Since many DDoS attacks come from within gaming communities, education is key. Server admins, tournament organizers, and players should be trained to recognize and report suspicious behavior.

#4 Monitor for early attack indicators

DDoS attacks often start with warning signs: sudden traffic spikes, frequent disconnections, or network slowdowns. Proactive monitoring can help stop attacks before they escalate.

Securing the future of online gaming

DDoS attacks against Minecraft servers are part of a broader trend affecting the gaming industry. Whether driven by competition, extortion, or sheer disruption, these attacks compromise gameplay, frustrate players, and cause financial losses. Learning from Minecraft’s challenges can help server operators and game developers build stronger defenses and prevent similar attacks across all gaming platforms.

While proactive measures like traffic monitoring and server hardening are essential, investing in purpose-built DDoS protection is the most effective way to guarantee uninterrupted gameplay and protect gaming communities. Gcore provides advanced, multi-layered DDoS protection specifically designed for gaming servers, including countermeasures tailored to Minecraft and other gaming servers. With a deep understanding of the industry’s security challenges, we help server owners keep their platforms secure, responsive, and resilient—no matter the type of attack.

Want to take the next step in securing your gaming servers?

Download our ultimate guide to preventing Minecraft DDoS