Amazon’s Twitch hacked: Hackers expose source code and payouts of creators and top 100 highest-paid Twitch streamers

Another day, another hacking news. This time it’s Amazon’s video streaming service Twitch that was hacked Wednesday in a cyber breach that exposed details on payments to gamers, content creators, future product plans, and an unreleased product from Amazon Game Studios.

The anonymous hacker claims to have also exposed sensitive source code and detail on payouts to content creators, according to multiple media reports. Twitch confirmed the breach and said it will provide updates when it has more information.

The individual claims to have exposed sensitive source code and detail on payouts to content creators, according to multiple media reports. Twitch confirmed the breach and said it will provide updates when it has more information.

The leak also exposed Amazon’s development of a digital gaming distribution platform, a potential challenger to Valve Corp.’s dominant Steam storefront. Bloomberg has reported previously on Amazon’s plans for a digital game store.

The hacker posted a link with 125 gigabytes of data to 4Chan, the internet messaging board supported by conspiracy theorists. The hacker said the purpose of the leak was to “foster more disruption and competition in the online video streaming space,” which he described as a “disgusting toxic cesspool,” according to the industry website Video Games Chronicle.

“Anytime source code gets leaked it’s not good and potentially disastrous,” said Ekram Ahmed, a spokesperson at Check Point Software Technologies, a cybersecurity firm. “It opens a gigantic door for evildoers to find cracks in the system, lace malware, and potentially steal sensitive information. I strongly recommend all Twitch users to exercise caution in the near-term ahead as cyber-attacks are on the rise.”

Amazon acquired Twitch in 2014. Since then, it has tried to combine it with other Prime services, like Amazon Music and Prime Gaming, once called Twitch Prime.

The gross payouts of the top 100 highest-paid Twitch streamers from August 2019 until October 2021.