Square Enix claims FFXIV Servers were unstable due to DDoS Attacks

Typically MMORPGs, as discussed at the beginning of our Podcast, don't always have a smooth start. The problem was especially worsened for Final Fantasy XIV, where the main scenario, and subsequently the way to unlock all the new zones, was locked behind the infamous 'Raubahn's Wall.' We got a great many memes out of this.

Image courtesy of FFXIV Forum User Elkanah

However, it seems that Square Enix and their servers aren't entirely to blame for many players being frequently booted off of FFXIV with the dreaded Error 90k. According to a statement put out by Square Enix, FFXIV's servers have been suffering a DDoS attack since June 16th - the start of the expansion.

DDoS - An attack attempting to increase the server load to an extensive level by flooding the network of the targeted servers using a massive number of computers.

This would certainly explain the issues FFXIV has been having recently. At the same time, it also calls into question if this is true or not - if your servers have been under attack this entire time, why bring it up now? Why not reassure people it isn't your fault from the beginning? It's notoriously hard to defend yourself from a DDoS attack, and the most common remedy is to bear with it until it ends. On top of that Raubahn's Instance was almost impossible to get through, and yet other instances in the game functioned fine.

What do you think - is Square Enix telling the truth? Or is this an attempt to save face?