Xbox 360 version of Left 4 Dead hacked [update]

by Richard Mitchell { Dec 10th 2008 at 12:45PM }

Well crap. One of the advantages of console gaming is that you are substantially less exposed to hacking. Of course, just like life, hackers find a way. Lo and behold, our favorite four player co-op zombie shooter of all time, Left 4 Dead, has been hacked on the Xbox 360. All sorts of crazy shenanigans are apparently possible, ranging from giant players and zombies to enemy spawning and even outright deletion of in-game objects. Apparently, the hacks are already spreading on Xbox Live, with a tipster reporting to Ars Technica that he was assaulted by 30 Witches and two Tanks in the safe room.

See a video of the virtual shenanigans after the break. We've contacted Valve for comment. You'll hear the company's response as soon as we do.

Update: Valve contacted Joystiq to say that the problem has been addressed: "Valve has released a server-side fix to deny the recently reported cheats on all dedicated Left 4 Dead Xbox 360 servers. The fix is designed to halt the cheating behavior on the dedicated servers, which accounts for the majority of the co-op and Versus modes of play. A title update for those playing on user-hosted servers and/or via system link will be released in the coming days."

[Via Joystiq]

Tags: hacks, left-4-dead, mods, valve

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

firelark @ Dec 10th 2008 12:52PM

ha

perhaps this will help keep the 360 version fresh in the same way the pc mods will.

brian @ Dec 10th 2008 12:55PM

I didn't know they made a Game Genie for XBOX 360~!

Nick @ Dec 10th 2008 1:52PM

early 90's reference FTW!!!

Ah, game genie. I won one once, it was the best thing EVER.

Sigh.

burgerbat @ Dec 10th 2008 1:00PM

Not sure if this is a widespread issue or not, but it looks like it should probably be patched up. Unless of course Valve continues to ignore the 360. L4D is my new obsession, and I would hate for Valve to ignore this lapse in code security. As long as it doesn't break co-op mode then I think I'll be okay. You would have to be an idiot to spawn 10 witches on your team.

Right4Dead @ Dec 10th 2008 1:13PM

Those who play orange box will understand more of this.. Lately there have been a lot of hackers on there, no clipping, building sentries everywhere...

Timerider @ Dec 10th 2008 3:12PM

And low gravity. How do they do that?

Well, we all know how often Valve updates TF2 on the Xbox.

Timerider @ Dec 10th 2008 3:21PM

And this is much more complicated than skywalking. Alot of the stuff in TF2 can be done in-game, and they still haven't fixed it.

Vince @ Dec 10th 2008 1:15PM

I ran into this iii bran iii guy a few days ago. He was able to do some pretty funny stuff. Throw a Molotov while held in the grasps of a Smoker or pounced on by a Hunter. Had infinite health.

The funniest thing happened when we spawned as humans in the safe room. We spawn. Hear beautiful sounds of pipe bombs at our feet. WTF!! BOOM BOOM! Half of out health is gone. HA!

joeybeast @ Dec 10th 2008 1:23PM

It's pretty hilarious.

Mazrael @ Dec 10th 2008 1:32PM

I thought Xbox Live blocked altered code...
Though it is impressive how much the engine can handle.. I was gonna take the game online at some point, looks like it's gonna be a friends only game.. I've seen glitching on Gears, it ruined the game for me.. I know the glitch for the rolled over chieve on GTA4, but I want to get the car to roll myself, but the game outright refuses me more than 4..

Dan @ Dec 10th 2008 1:35PM

Motherf---

I friggin' hate hackers so much. I hope MS/Valve does something to remedy this. Yaay for ruining games for other people! Maybe MS could send a lifetime ban from XBL their way? Or just straight up brick their console... if only...

Sneaky Condor @ Dec 10th 2008 1:38PM

This is not technically a "mod" or a "hack", its based off a trainer program that was made for the game. I'm not posting where it's avalible but it is very easy to do and LOTS of fun.

Dan @ Dec 10th 2008 1:50PM

Hey dumbass -
Trainers are MODS and HACKS. Moron.

Sneaky Condor @ Dec 10th 2008 1:54PM

Och so much anger. Really in the world of the xbox modding what is done here is just like having a PC trainer but its a L4D trainer. If you wanna call it hacks or mods I guess you can but to me and most of modding community this is really nothing new.

Viridium @ Dec 10th 2008 2:09PM

If you're not actually messing with people on Live, then go haxx0r whatever you want. I hope this is the case.

But if you start effing with it when I'm just trying to play a regular game on Live, then let's call it hacking and call you a douchebag and be done with it.

Dan @ Dec 10th 2008 2:18PM

A mod is something that modifies the code of a game in a way outside the normal boundaries of what is possible. I'd call a hack the same thing. Now I'm not sure what you call hacks, if you have to manually edit the source code for it to be "hacking"? That's bullshit. Yes, I understand it is a trainer, I know what that is. It is still modding and hacking the game, but you're using a pre-created toos to do it. So in a way you're just a little hacker script kiddie. The worst kind :)

ChewyDogg @ Dec 10th 2008 1:39PM

I bet this guy's message box is overflowing with hate mail and death threats. And if it's not, then it should be.

Nick @ Dec 10th 2008 1:53PM

Did anyone elses' anus clinch at the thought of THIRTY (30) witches in one room? Let alone the safe room?

And 2 tanks?

I'd have to rip my 360 from the wall and throw it under the covers to hide with me.

Tony Bowman @ Dec 10th 2008 1:54PM

hope they hardware ban his console.

Pete Stoneman @ Dec 10th 2008 2:12PM

I don't think that this is a *hack* - Because all these things can be done on the PC version through the developers console.

The same thing happened in Team Fortress 2 for the Xbox 360 - there was a glitch which allowed players to enter the developers console in-game, then use a USB keyboard to enter commands.

Being 'big' is just noclipping to the skybox (Other people then see your enlarged self), the same goes for the 'small city'.

Spawning tanks and witches is just playing the director, as in the PC version with Versus.

Dan @ Dec 10th 2008 2:19PM

Yes Pete, you can access almost all of these things through the developer's console. But on an xbox, on multiplayer, to access and use these commands? I'd still call it hacking and it still is incredibly detrimental for the game and everyone who enjoys it.

Sneaky Condor @ Dec 10th 2008 2:14PM

Viridium, I agree. This trainer was made to be used in offline/single play only. I know people have/are using it online and I think that is cheap as well.

Sneaky Condor @ Dec 10th 2008 2:21PM

Dan, call it what you want and I will do the same. I'm not a "script kiddie" as I didn't make the trainer, nor did I ever mention that I had any knowledge of hacking/coding. I was just stating my thoughts on the trainer.

Dan @ Dec 10th 2008 2:30PM

Sure. I didn't imply you made the trainer or anything of the sort (Gods no, that would require actually 'hacking' which you never do!), I just implied that you are just as bad as so called 'hackers' by using their little applet. So ta ta.

Script kiddie :)

erisandra @ Dec 10th 2008 2:31PM

This issue has been patched serverside.

Toucha @ Dec 10th 2008 2:42PM

those are some good songs in that trailer what is anyone know them?!?!?

Loban @ Dec 10th 2008 2:55PM

It's Valve, they'll fix it quick. They are smarter than you or I.

Timerider @ Dec 10th 2008 3:13PM

People still skywalk in Team Fortress 2, and its been out for over a year.

Livi70590 @ Dec 10th 2008 3:17PM

Valve's Response: 'Meh, buy the PC version'.

Timerider @ Dec 10th 2008 3:22PM

They're getting funding from the "I'm a PC" marketing.

UK31337 @ Dec 10th 2008 3:22PM

Valve have just made one of their lazy mistakes. Remember the PC version of TF2 got the update which included one of Valve's own internal tools as well as console commands to unlock all the achievements?

Valve's console games have always had something totally wrong with them as well, usually the controls and the general lack of support after release.

I think "Meh, buy the PC version" is exactly what Valve think, they only support the 360 because their code from Windows will port nearly straight over (and Gabe Newell hates the PS3 in a very personal manner so Valve will never do a PS3 port first-party) and it'll make them more money from the people with crap PCs. They don't *like* making console versions one bit but it makes them extra $$$.

Anyhoo, I thought L4D was total crap anyway. I'll get flamed for that but it's my opinion and I stick by it.

SadisticHam @ Dec 10th 2008 3:58PM

And this is why i held off L4D, wanted to see how well Valve would support it first.

We'll see soon if this is another team fortress or if they'll actually get off their butts this time. ;)

Sucks for anyone who bought it early, you might be stuck with this.

Sneaky Condor @ Dec 10th 2008 4:04PM

There is a patch coming, so Dan please stop crying about "hackers and Script kiddies."

http://kotaku.com/5106645/left-4-dead-anti+cheat-fix-released-for-xbox-360

Dan @ Dec 10th 2008 4:17PM

Sweet. That was really quick. Thanks for the update, Sneaky Connor! My eyes were getting so red and sore!

RedSonRising @ Dec 10th 2008 4:10PM

well, no reason to play this game now.. ive hated mods and cheaters since my final days with starcraft. i dont pay attention to leaderboards in games for exactly that reason.. 90% of the time the only ppl even close to the top are flagrant cheating bastards and i hope they get banned or their console bricks..

Conor @ Dec 10th 2008 5:57PM

The ban hammer will be swinging.

Llama9035 @ Jan 9th 2009 9:08PM

so, im playing and I get a pretty good distance from the safe room. but I turn around and we have someone being sexually assaulted by a hunter. so I go back to find a boomer waiting. he throws up on me, and lo and behold, here comes a tank, wtf? so we killed it. OMG another tank. we all died right infront of our safe room because of this. hackers should die....