Germany’s foreign intelligence service is heading to Gamescom 2026 in search of gamers who could become its next generation of special agents.
The Bundesnachrichtendienst, better known as the BND and often compared to Britain’s MI6, plans to use the massive gaming convention in Cologne as a recruitment ground for tech talent.
According to The Telegraph, promising candidates will be invited to complete a five stage challenge designed to test their aptitude for cybersecurity and hacking.
Agents will also reportedly use the event to scout “qualified professionals” for more advanced cyber roles.
The recruitment drive comes as Germany looks to strengthen the BND and give it greater powers to respond to Russian cyberattacks.
New reforms approved by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s cabinet include a “hack back” provision that would allow the agency to retaliate against cyberattacks. That could involve targeting foreign intelligence databases or weapons production networks.
“We see a significant overlap between gamers and key talent we are looking for: they are tech-savvy, enjoy stepping into different roles,” BND spokesperson Julia Linner said.
The agency believes gamers are also comfortable completing missions, adopting different identities, and repeatedly attempting challenges until they succeed.
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/german-spy-agency-is-recruiting-gamers-to-become-special-agents-3401750/
