In this example from Satisfactory , players are automatically forced into Epic Games' online features. The responsible API is also linked to a telemetry service, so that blocking (e.g. to protect one's own privacy) is made more difficult and partly impossible, since a game either no longer works at all or only half of it works with deactivation.
At the start of the game, up to 8 callbacks are made, which update after some time and newly acquired records. Thus, an active game with the Epic Online Service can contact several dozen Ipv4 addresses and servers during a gaming session. This ensures that players are continuously monitored and collected data is routed to the servers used by Epic.
As part of its operations, Epic Games, Inc. collects raw data and telemetry from users and devices to improve the user experience and performance of its products and services.
The public API platform, which is operated by Epic Games and offers developers access to various services and functions to facilitate the development of games and applications, serves as a means to an end.
The API includes various services such as authentication, profile management, friends, matchmaking, leaderboards and more. The problem here with, however, is that these functions are accompanied by online coercion.
Another sniffing piece is the etsource.epicgames.com, which is similar in its basic structure to the leading Datarouter telemetry. Session data is recorded. Identifiers can be found in the example. The product Valhalla Hills, time stamp, machine/device ID, platform data, product version and much more.
Like the detailed Datarouter telemetry, the ETSource serves as event tracking and is activated at every game start and also records the end of its own session. The funny thing here is the "anonymization" of the user ID, which is contrary to a unique UUID.
POST /ET2/CollectData.1?SessionID=%7B2563ADBB-4012-4154-78FF-9BB1074DCDF7%7D&AppID=UEGame.UnrealEngine.Release%7CEAAD595D401B126B71E7A2A875E338CC%7CValhalla%20Hills&AppVersion=4.10.1-0%2B%2B%2Bdepot%2BUE4-Releases%2B4.10&UserID=ANON-%7B2FE11109-48F8-40C6-507F-2298E7B30731%7D HTTP/1.1
Host: etsource.epicgames.com
Accept: */*
Content-Type: application/json; charset=utf-8
User-Agent: game=ValhallaHills, engine=UE4, version=4.10.1-0+++depot+UE4-Releases+4.10
Pragma: no-cache
Content-Length: 300
{
"Events" : [
{
"DateOffset" : "00:01:19.597",
"EventName" : "SessionStart",
"IsEditor" : "0",
"Platform" : "Windows",
"ProjectDescription" : "Valhalla Hills",
"ProjectID": "EAAD595D401B126B71E7A2A875E338CC",
"ProjectName" : "Valhalla Hills",
"ProjectVersion" : "1.0.0.0",
"UniqueDeviceId" : "ecac91580de36ee424a63ca1e4ddb91d"
}
]
}
The API queries contain a callback function and open websockets that make contact with domestic servers at intervals of seconds. However, the procedure can also be found in other titles.
https://api.epicgames.dev/notifications/v1/3c63055a9e824095bbd0193d7af28b5e/connect
https://api.epicgames.dev/lobby/v1/3c63055a9e824095bbd0193d7af28b5e/lobbies/connect
CONNECT
heart-beat:30000,30000
accept-version:1.0,1.1,1.2
Epic Games, Inc. uses various services of the AWS platform of Amazon.com, Inc. These include
Based on the list, some IPv4 addresses come together, which are contacted in games and the in-house distribution platform. A large overview of involved domains and IP addresses can be found in the hosts-files.
The Epic Datarouter is a data processing and analysis tool developed by Epic Games that primarily serves to collect and process data of user behavior and interactions in various applications of Epic Games. The scope of functions of Epic Datarouter includes
Overall, the Epic Datarouter allows Epic Games to collect and analyze extensive data on user behavior and application performance to improve the user experience and performance of products and services.
https://datarouter.ol.epicgames.com/datarouter/api/v1/public/data?SessionID=%7BE549AE4E-4C26-02A2-B35B-0689B62E33D1%7D&AppID=UEGame.UnrealEngine.Release%7CAB6A8CED4F42A48205A72ABBEACA344B%7CJUMP-FORCE&AppVersion=4.19.2-0%2B%2B%2BUE4%2BRelease-4.19&UserID=ANON-%7B105D305B-404D-396E-1F78-08A6DF4334BA%7D%7C%7C&AppEnvironment=datacollector-source&UploadType=eteventstream
https://api.epicgames.dev/telemetry/data/datarouter/api/v1/public/data?SessionID=%7BF8957C13-44D6-40E3-EBBD-D580F08D05DC%7D&AppID=EOSSDK.PhaseRelease.ReleaseBuild&AppVersion=1.5.0-12496671%20-%20%2B%2BEOSSDK%2BRelease-1.5-CL-12496671&UserID=&AppEnvironment=Production&UploadType=sdkevents