DRM
Ongoing coverage on DRM.
Latest coverage
Dead by Daylight is now testing Denuvo, but "will not include" its anti-piracy DRM
Dead by Daylight developer Behaviour Interactive is trialing Denuvo's anti-cheat solution exclusively on Steam. The company clarified that this anti-cheat tool is separate from Denuvo's controversial anti-piracy DRM, which will not be implemented in the game. The trial is temporary, and players will be prompted to install the anti-cheat software to play.
A cracked version of Marvel Tōkon is reigniting questions around DRM and its impact on PC games
A DRM-free cracked version of Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls is reportedly performing better than the official PC release, reigniting debates about Digital Rights Management's impact on game performance. Players are reporting significantly lower CPU usage and higher frame rates on the cracked version, leading to speculation that Sony's DRM was the cause of the original issues. This situation raises concerns about the future of the PC version's player base and technical stability.
Xbox CTO pins Xbox Network downtime on external “licensing service”
Xbox Chief Technical Officer Scott Van Vliet explained that a recent Xbox Network outage was caused by an external licensing service failure, impacting game sign-ins, library access, and purchases. The company is implementing changes to prevent single points of failure and improve transparency during future incidents. The outage also highlighted ongoing concerns about restrictive DRM policies affecting game access.
Buffs, Nerfs, and Bugs
IO Interactive has removed Denuvo DRM from 007: First Blood. Valve's latest Proton update addresses a game-breaking bug in Diablo IV on Linux systems.
The Blood of Dawnwalker Won’t Feature Mini-Games or Denuvo, But May Have Werewolves
Rebel Wolves has confirmed that The Blood of Dawnwalker will not feature mini-games or Denuvo DRM. The open-world action RPG, developed by former The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt creators, is set to launch on September 3rd for Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC. The developers also hinted at the possible inclusion of werewolves among other confirmed folklore creatures.
Black Flag Resynced beats Shadows sales launch despite broken offline mode
Ubisoft's remake of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced has achieved strong sales, selling two million copies on launch day and setting a new franchise record for concurrent players on Steam. However, the PC version is experiencing significant issues with its offline mode due to problems with Ubisoft Connect's DRM, preventing players from accessing the game when servers are down.
Despite having an offline mode, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced was unplayable when Ubisoft Connect went down
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced experienced significant issues when Ubisoft Connect, its DRM and social layer, went offline for about an hour. Despite having an offline mode, the game became unplayable on PC during the outage, a problem that has affected other Ubisoft titles. The game also faced criticism at launch for its cosmetic microtransactions.
This Isn’t The First Time PlayStation (And Others) Tried To Kill Used Games
This article discusses how Sony's move away from physical media by 2028 is a culmination of past industry trends, specifically the 'online pass' system implemented by publishers like EA, Ubisoft, and PlayStation in the late 2000s and early 2010s. This practice required single-use codes for online functionality, effectively hindering the used game market and leading to consumer backlash. Despite initial justifications related to online service costs, the practice was phased out, and Sony even championed used games for the PlayStation 4. The article suggests that current market trends, favoring digital sales, now allow platform holders to reintroduce similar restrictions.
Buffs, Nerfs, and Bugs
A cracked version of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag has reportedly leaked prior to its official release, despite the implementation of Denuvo DRM protection. This incident highlights ongoing challenges in preventing unauthorized distribution of video games.
"The future of gaming shouldn't come at the expense of ownership" - Anti-DRM champion GOG restates the fundamentals as PlayStation kills off discs
GOG, a digital storefront known for its DRM-free games, emphasizes the importance of game preservation and player ownership in response to Sony's move away from physical media. GOG's joint-CEO Krzysztof Papliński stated that players should have confidence in long-term access to their purchased games, regardless of platform or business model changes. The company's commitment to DRM-free titles and offline installers ensures lasting control for consumers.
"RIP PLAYSTATION 1994-2026" - Players are flocking to Sony's old PS4 anti-DRM video in the wake of its shock decision to scrap physical games
Sony announced it will cease production of physical discs for PlayStation games starting January 2028, shifting to an all-digital future. This decision has sparked significant backlash from players concerned about anti-consumer practices and the loss of permanent ownership. In response, gamers have revisited a 2013 anti-DRM video featuring Shuhei Yoshida and Adam Boyes, highlighting the perceived shift in Sony's player-centric stance.
Persona 6 appears on Steam, Atlus and Sega accidentally say something interesting for once in wishlist announcement
Persona 6 has appeared on Steam, allowing players to wishlist the upcoming JRPG. The Steam page includes a slightly updated mature content description compared to Persona 5 Royal and confirms the use of Denuvo Anti-tamper DRM. Atlus and Sega are emphasizing the game's standalone nature and its setting in modern-day Japan, suggesting it will be accessible to newcomers.
NVIDIA driver 610.43.02 arrives for Linux with Vulkan upgrades, DRM colour pipeline API support
NVIDIA has released driver version 610.43.02 for Linux, introducing new Vulkan extensions and support for the DRM color pipeline API. This update includes performance improvements for Starfield and fixes a regression in Doom: The Dark Ages. The driver also adds support for mmap on DMABUF file descriptors and FP16 EGL framebuffer configurations on Wayland.
'Off the wishlist it comes': 007 First Light fans are requesting refunds after learning about Denuvo DRM…
IO Interactive has added Denuvo DRM to 007 First Light shortly before its May 27, 2026 launch, leading to significant backlash from PC players on Steam. Users are expressing concerns about potential performance impacts and system restrictions, with many initiating refund requests and vowing to wait for cheaper, DRM-free versions.
ARC Raiders’ latest patch adds a new vendor NPC and Denuvo anti-cheat – without the DRM
ARC Raiders has received a new patch that introduces a vendor NPC called the Nomadic Envoy, who offers cosmetics, blueprints, and other items for barter. The update also controversially adds Denuvo anti-cheat to a limited player pool, though the developers state it will not include DRM and they are working to minimize performance impact. Additional changes include a new grenade launcher, adjustments to enemy detection, weapon buffs, and various bug fixes.
Arc Raiders turns to Denuvo to finally squash the extraction shooter's cheating problem, but Embark won't use DRM and is "working to ensure minimal impact on performance"
Embark Studios has implemented Denuvo's Anti-Cheat measures in the latest Arc Raiders patch to combat cheating. The studio assures players that this implementation will not involve DRM and is being optimized to minimize performance impact. This update also includes new weapons, a trader, and balance adjustments.
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight goes live early for some Xbox players as the PC version gets Denuvo DRM
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight is experiencing pre-launch issues, with some Xbox Series X/S players gaining early access via Walmart pre-order codes. The PC version, available on Steam, has been confirmed to include Denuvo DRM, raising concerns about potential performance impacts.
Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight Quietly Adds Denuvo DRM Weeks Before Launch
TT Games and Warner Bros. have added Denuvo DRM software to Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight shortly before its release. The controversial anti-tamper technology was quietly integrated into the game's files.
Evening Consolidation
Sony has confirmed that the Digital Rights Management (DRM) policy for games on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 requires only a one-time check. The game Strange Antiquities is now available on Xbox and PlayStation platforms.
Sony clarifies confusion around DRM game licenses on PlayStation
Sony has clarified its Digital Rights Management (DRM) and game license policies for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, addressing confusion caused by a 30-day timer on newly purchased digital games. A PlayStation representative stated that a one-time online check is required after purchase to confirm the license, with no further check-ins needed afterward. This policy applies to new purchases and is not retroactive.
