Hi EA Community Team,With people riding the Battlefield 2042 hype train and Amazon Prime giving BF4 away, I opened a 64-slot server in Singapore out of my pocket and within a few days, am under constant DDOS attacks.My server provider, Fragnet, has indicated your chosen backend Blaze is vulnerable to DDOS attacks and as a result, their capability of mitigating DDOS attacks is limited.What's happening now is there are malicious parties in China who rent servers in regions they do not live in, DDOS neighboring servers and lure players into their own server which is left standing. For example, this is the server they operate now: https://battlelog.battlefield.com/bf4/servers/show/pc/fcc8c257-bf87-4772-9223-634395f9904a/KFC-ALL-WELCOME-FAST-VEHICLE-SPAWN-HIGH-TICKETS/If you join their QQ group 785055467, the group admins will pressure members into paying substantial amounts of money in order to enter their server whitelist. This is no different from gangsters who set competitors' venues on fire and making money out of their illegal actions.Please do something about this. Kicking the can down the road down to the server providers hasn't worked since 2014, and will not work again.

Many of our BF4 servers are right now under a DDOS attack!Result is that servers are either fully crashing, stuck like in a frozen state or instantly just dumping a large segment of all players active on the server, so going instant from like a full 64 player game and then bang, only 5-8 players remain in the active game round.And in worst case, the server just remains in a chronic frozen state and then no longer reachable, neither by owner/admins or players.We absolutely need EA/DICE professionals to look into getting this stopped ASAP!The online EA Support group are not competent to handle our tickets that we raise regarding this, as the root cause is not getting fixed and that support staff do not have the technical insights required or the access to get to the server end of things fixed for us here.Relevant EA folks can contact me for my own server name/details (or look it up in your own internal registry for CyberDyme rented BF servers on the PlayStation platform), but here is a list just of the most recent BF4 Server Crash events on one of our servers:Server Crashes on Friday 10 February 2023:Crash 20:28 CETCrash 20:50 CETCrash 21:10 CETCrash 21:33 CETCrash 21:57 CET Crash 22:32 CETI trust you understand that this is not an acceptable state or customer experience.

Hi Elliot,That isn't true at all. The core issue pinpointed by the server provider was on the Blaze backend which EA uses to connect to Battlelog, and it's the weak link which makes it easy for DDOSers to get their way.Please escalate this to management because it's enabling criminals to swindle new BF4 players of their money.

Players active on the server when this sudden DDOS Attack/Crash happens will typically experience that all gameplay on the screen gets into a frozen state and nothing moves. If they go to the Options screen to check for the performance metrics, then this is what they typically see:So the network connection is perfectly fine for them and working as supposed to locally and to their internet ISP. But the BF4 server itself has stopped responding to any of the connected BF4 players/the connected clients. As illustarted by the screenshot here above. Suddenly showing a latency to the server of 50+ seconds! And this is the case for ALL the connected players.Typically the server then ends up fully crashing and everybody are kicked off the server and server is empty and all can join a few seconds later again. Or near all players are dumped by the server, but maybe 4-7 players are left still on it, and they then can suddenly start moving again and all a-pear back to ‘normal’.And this then goes fine until again next DDOS attack is being placed onto the server hosting party here for EA/DICE.And the BF4 game servers on that IP segment is then again all coming crashing down or going into the permanent frozen state.EA really needs to step up and do something seriously about this!Its not something new. And most of us renting servers have all experienced this from time to time.But it has become more and more frequent and to the state now absolutely not acceptable anymore in any way or form.

I've also been experiencing the same problem for MONTHS! but lately it's been really getting out of hand!Crashes as many as 5, 6 a day!I been renting BF4 servers for close to 9 years but Hardcore Nation Metro will be our sixth year anniversary on the 9th of March!Sad to have such a tragic end to a wonderful game ever created by EA!Server: Hardcore Nation MetroConsole: PS4Game: BF4

I have been following your post daily CyberDyme and I’m absolutely beyond the point of being disappointed with Ea Sports and the rumors I hear on a daily that they’re deliberately causing these issues we face everyday as players and server owners. My online gaming history is much different then most as I just started playing online 8 months ago. Single player is all I ever played and I tried BF4 online and ever since bf4 is all I play. Most people have their friends they visit on a daily and talk to and I have my fellow comrades. Metro Hardcore is why I fell in love with this game and it will always be my “first love”. I’ve owned my server for roughly 6 months and I help run Hardcore Variations. Over the last month I non stop lose connection to the server, multiple times per day and it’s getting to the point I can’t even finish a game. I hear it’s because of world events that are taking place and they’re professional hackers. I also hear it’s other gamers we play with that crash these servers but the most disturbing rumor that keeps circling community is that we may be continue to be targeted by our own creator, that being EA Sports. They do have motive for one because of the flop release of 2042 and lack of interest I would imagine that drove down financials and caused a lot of issues, and probably due to shareholders demand to fix this flop. I wouldn’t put it past any big corporation to use its power to manipulate its customers to get what it needs and wants and that being all of us to move to 2042. I’ve emailed and tried to call and chat with numerous people that are associated with EA sport to try to express the concerns and issues we’re having and it’s impossible to get a response from anybody addressing the issues that we post here, twitter etc. They have even hijacked the opening credits of battlefield four by making you look at the advertisement for the new season of 2042 they continuously just keep trying to force it upon us. If EA sports isn’t behind us, then they need to start dialogue with us, server owners and players, and explain what they are going to do to fix this and combat these attacks. The lack of acknowledgment to these posts here and everywhere else makes them look guilty. EA sports and the little guy that reads this on the other side. You have a duty to represent your customers because without us you are nothing. I’m asking from man to man or man to woman whoever may be reading this to do the right thing and get these concerns in front of somebody who will least acknowledge them, so we know that we’re at least being heard. Every day I lose hope and respect for EA sports that I’ve always had since being a kid. You have a commitment to us and I respectively ask you to acknowledge our issues with the servers crashing and either put a team together to fix it, or admit that you were doing it and just shut them down for good

Community Server Under Attack by DDOS from China

48 Replies

ElliotLH
Hero+
4 years ago
@DavlosREE Sorry to hear about this, it must be incredibly unpleasant for you, and spoils your enjoyment.

However, you would need to raise this issue with the company you have rented the server from, as it's not provided by EA.
DavlosREE
4 years ago
Hi Elliot,
That isn't true at all. The core issue pinpointed by the server provider was on the Blaze backend which EA uses to connect to Battlelog, and it's the weak link which makes it easy for DDOSers to get their way.
Please escalate this to management because it's enabling criminals to swindle new BF4 players of their money.
ElliotLH
Hero+
4 years ago
@DavlosREE I checked with a Community Manager before replying, and that was the response given. Sorry that I can do nothing further to help you.
CyberDyme
3 years ago
Many of our BF4 servers are right now under a DDOS attack!
Result is that servers are either fully crashing, stuck like in a frozen state or instantly just dumping a large segment of all players active on the server, so going instant from like a full 64 player game and then bang, only 5-8 players remain in the active game round.
And in worst case, the server just remains in a chronic frozen state and then no longer reachable, neither by owner/admins or players.
We absolutely need EA/DICE professionals to look into getting this stopped ASAP!
The online EA Support group are not competent to handle our tickets that we raise regarding this, as the root cause is not getting fixed and that support staff do not have the technical insights required or the access to get to the server end of things fixed for us here.
Relevant EA folks can contact me for my own server name/details (or look it up in your own internal registry for CyberDyme rented BF servers on the PlayStation platform), but here is a list just of the most recent BF4 Server Crash events on one of our servers:
Server Crashes on Friday 10 February 2023:
Crash 20:28 CET
Crash 20:50 CET
Crash 21:10 CET
Crash 21:33 CET
Crash 21:57 CET
Crash 22:32 CET
I trust you understand that this is not an acceptable state or customer experience.
CyberDyme
3 years ago
Players active on the server when this sudden DDOS Attack/Crash happens will typically experience that all gameplay on the screen gets into a frozen state and nothing moves. If they go to the Options screen to check for the performance metrics, then this is what they typically see:
So the network connection is perfectly fine for them and working as supposed to locally and to their internet ISP. But the BF4 server itself has stopped responding to any of the connected BF4 players/the connected clients. As illustarted by the screenshot here above. Suddenly showing a latency to the server of 50+ seconds! And this is the case for ALL the connected players.
Typically the server then ends up fully crashing and everybody are kicked off the server and server is empty and all can join a few seconds later again. Or near all players are dumped by the server, but maybe 4-7 players are left still on it, and they then can suddenly start moving again and all a-pear back to ‘normal’.
And this then goes fine until again next DDOS attack is being placed onto the server hosting party here for EA/DICE.
And the BF4 game servers on that IP segment is then again all coming crashing down or going into the permanent frozen state.
EA really needs to step up and do something seriously about this!
Its not something new. And most of us renting servers have all experienced this from time to time.
But it has become more and more frequent and to the state now absolutely not acceptable anymore in any way or form.
CyberDyme
3 years ago
Are Electronic Arts serious about rectifying servers being attacked by hackers, and pursuing them to the extend of what the law permits?
So far, it appears as nothing is being done from EA's side.
Servers still being DDOS attacked 24/7.
Crashes confirmed so far:
Server Crashes Confirmed on Friday 10 February 2023:
Crash 20:28 CET
Crash 20:50 CET
Crash 21:10 CET
Crash 21:33 CET
Crash 21:57 CET
Crash 22:32 CET
Crash 22:57 CET
Server Crashes Confirmed on Saturday 11 February 2023:
Crash 02:07 CET
Crash 10:33 CET
Crash 13:30 CET
Server Crashes Confirmed on Sunday 12 February 2023:
Crash 22:12 CET
Crash 22:55 CET
And yes, these are confirmed to be crashes caused by deliberate DDOS attacks onto the server.
Physical and factual threats have been forwarded to the server admin team.
Even with an empty server, the server performance tacos are permanent showing in red, top right.
Waiting for EA to respond and take action please...!
YUMSKIS_27
3 years ago
@CyberDyme this thing just happen to me on a infantry server. Everyone on the server left, almost nobody was spawning. Then suddenly my own internet went down. Had to even reset my router. When i checked, the server was empty. I dont even care to play anymore if my whole internet crashes from this bs.
kontract705880
3 years ago
maybe EA wants us all to move to 2042
CyberDyme
3 years ago
@YUMSKIS_27 wrote:
@CyberDymethis thing just happen to me on a infantry server. Everyone on the server left, almost nobody was spawning. Then suddenly my own internet went down. Had to even reset my router. When i checked, the server was empty. I dont even care to play anymore if my whole internet crashes from this bs.
Indeed @YUMSKIS_27 ,
It is very disturbing and very frequent for the time being!
Though I can tell you that it does not take down your own local internet. It doesnt.
Though the message that we get from the EA game itself appear to maybe hint at that, it is matter of fact not correct!
It is all happening on the EA BF game server itself. (confirmed by EA's partner in Europe, who hosts their BF4 servers). It is getting overwhelmed by the DDOS attack load and then at a certain point breaks down in the sense it suddenly starts to drop the connection to all connected players, as it cannot keep up with maintaining the synch required within given time limits on the network.
Unfortunately the now old BF4 client application does not know well how to handle that error situation, so typically it will also leave your own client software in an error state, for which there is no 'run time error handling exit controls'.
So while you may actually get back to the main menu in the game application, if you ask it to join the server again, then it will simply state "Joining server...". But it will matter of fact never do so, as its still stuck in your old error state in your network to the server end.
Only way out of that for all the affected players is for them all to close down the app and restart the BF4 app again.
The real root cause and where this has to be fixed is of course on EA's side!
And then work together with their BF4 server hosting partners.
EA should get serious about chasing down these DDOS attackers and then also perma-ban the EA player accounts associated with that activity!
GODSGRAV3
3 years ago
We are also experiencing issues with our Battlefield 4 server. Although we are not seeing high pings. We are however seeing blaze crashes at xx:18, xx:20. xx:48 and xx:50. It looks like a bad actor is sending spoofed messages to the back-end of Battlefield to disconnect all players as our server remains up and is not reporting strange behaviour only the back-end of battlefield does.