Piracy
Ongoing coverage on Piracy.
Latest coverage
Subnautica 2 Sold a Million Copies in One Day. Here Is Why That Matters.
Subnautica 2 achieved remarkable success, selling one million copies and reaching 460,000 concurrent players on Steam within its first day, despite early leaks and piracy. This performance indicates a strong market for atmospheric, non-live service games. The game's success has also put its developer, Unknown Worlds, on track to meet significant sales milestones and potential bonuses tied to its acquisition by Krafton.
Videogame pirates scold each other after Subnautica 2 developers are taunted with illicit copies
Following the early access release of Subnautica 2, some players were discovered bragging about pirating the game on the official Discord server. Developer Anthony Gallegos expressed disappointment, leading to discussions on Reddit's piracy subreddit about the etiquette of sharing illicit copies. The game is priced at $30.
Subnautica 2 User Outs Themselves as Having Pirated the Game After Contacting the Developer for Support
A user who pirated Subnautica 2 inadvertently revealed their status by contacting the developer, Unknown Worlds Entertainment, for support. This incident highlights the risks associated with playing pirated software.
"I cannot condone piracy, but I get why people do" - Subnautica 2 lead designer airs frustration at 'flagrant' pirates
Subnautica 2 lead designer Anthony Gallegos expressed frustration with players openly boasting about pirating the game, distinguishing it from general piracy which he understands. Despite the issue, the game achieved over 2 million sales across PC and Xbox Series X/S shortly after its early access launch.
"I hope you rethink your life choices": Subnautica 2 dev responds to pirate asking for tech support on leaked…
Unknown Worlds, the developer of Subnautica 2, responded to a player who pirated an early build of the game and then asked for technical support on Discord. The developer expressed disappointment, noting that the leaked builds were incomplete and not representative of the final product. The incident occurred just before the game's official early access release.
Level-5 criticised for anti-piracy statement while not having legal alternative to play back catalogue
Level-5 has faced criticism for issuing an anti-piracy statement while failing to provide legal avenues for international fans to access its older titles, such as the Yo-kai Watch series. Fans point out the lack of global releases and modern re-releases, making piracy the only option for many outside of Japan.
Sinopsis Captain Phillips, Bioskop Trans TV 14 Mei 2026
The film Captain Phillips, starring Tom Hanks as Captain Richard Phillips, will be broadcast on Bioskop Trans TV on May 14, 2026. The movie recounts the true story of the MV Maersk Alabama's hijacking by Somali pirates off the coast of Africa in 2009 and the subsequent hostage negotiation.
Ubisoft announces real-life treasure hunt to celebrate Black Flag Resynced with $500,000 on the line
Ubisoft is launching a real-life treasure hunt called "Gold & Crystal - The Lost Treasure of Edward Kenway" to celebrate the upcoming release of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag Resynced. The multi-year event, in partnership with Unsolved Hunts, involves solving riddles to find a treasure chest worth approximately $500,000 in the Caribbean Sea. While not requiring knowledge of the game, participants can pre-order packs starting at $35 to access the hunt, which officially begins on November 9, 2026.
Level-5 Issued Statement on Pirating Roms of Its Games
Level-5 has issued a statement addressing the unauthorized reproduction and distribution of its game software, warning of legal action against copyright infringement. The company acknowledges awareness of piracy and asks the community to refrain from using pirated copies. This comes as some of Level-5's titles, like Yo-kai Watch 3, are scarce or unavailable in certain regions, driving up prices for physical copies.
"We Will Continue To Pay Close Attention" - Level-5 Issues A Warning Against Piracy
Developer Level-5 has issued a strong warning against the piracy and illegal distribution of its game software. The company stated it will actively monitor for copyright infringement and take legal action, including content removals and account suspensions. Level-5 also urged its community to refrain from downloading or using pirated copies of their games.
Forza Horizon 6 leak not a "pre-load issue," Playground Games claims as dev bans entire bloodlines for playing pirated copies
Forza Horizon 6 has reportedly been leaked in its entirety on Steam, with developer Playground Games claiming it is not a pre-load issue. The studio has implemented extensive franchise-wide and hardware bans against individuals accessing pirated copies, with some bans lasting until the year 9999. SteamDB suggests the leak may have originated from someone with early access, such as a reviewer.
Forza Horizon 6's unencrypted leak 'is not a result of a pre-load issue' and warns any users downloading the build with 'franchise-wide and hardware bans'
Playground Games has confirmed that an unencrypted build of Forza Horizon 6 has leaked, clarifying it was not due to a Steam pre-load issue. The developer is issuing franchise-wide and hardware bans to anyone accessing the leaked build, warning players against downloading it before the official May 19 release date on Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and PC.
The Forza Horizon 6 ban reminds us that Playground Games hates modding
A player has reportedly received a ban in Forza Horizon 6 until the year 9999, citing modding as the reason. This incident highlights Playground Games' strict stance against modding, a sentiment echoed from previous titles like Forza Horizon 5. The ban may also be related to the game being played via a pirated copy, which was accidentally leaked online.
Forza Horizon 6 Suffers Massive Leak Via Steam Preload Blunder
Forza Horizon 6 has reportedly leaked on PC via an unencrypted Steam preload, with the full 155GB file appearing on piracy websites. Microsoft is reportedly issuing takedown notices to combat the unauthorized distribution. The leak occurred shortly before the game's scheduled early access launch on May 15.
PS5 DRM system isn't online only as Sony finally explains how it works
Sony has clarified its new Digital Rights Management (DRM) system for the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4, stating that it does not require constant online checks for purchased digital games. A one-time online verification is needed to confirm the game's license, after which games can be accessed offline. This explanation aims to alleviate concerns about digital ownership and accessibility that arose from initial misinterpretations.
Denuvo DRM reportedly fully cracked open, 2K apparently fights back with online checks
Denuvo DRM, a widely criticized anti-piracy technology, has reportedly been fully cracked, impacting numerous games. In response, publisher 2K Games has implemented a new DRM measure requiring online checks every 14 days for titles like NBA 2K25, NBA 2K26, and Marvel's Midnight Suns, which may inconvenience legitimate players.
THE ICONIC PIRATE ADVENTURE RETURNS IN ASSASSIN’S CREED™ BLACK FLAG RESYNCED AVAILABLE ON JULY 9, 2026
Ubisoft announced that Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, a remake of the 2013 title, will launch worldwide on July 9, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Developed by Ubisoft Singapore, the game features updated visuals and gameplay mechanics, including parry-driven combat and deeper naval systems. It will be available in Standard, Deluxe, and Collector's Editions, with pre-orders including the Blackbeard's Crimson Pack.
Assassin’s Creed Black Flag Resynced has been revealed, and it’s coming out in July
Ubisoft has announced Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, a remake built on the Anvil engine by Ubisoft Singapore, launching July 9th for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. The remake features refined combat, stealth, and parkour, expanded narrative content, and enhanced naval mechanics, alongside visual upgrades and new music. It will be available in Standard, Deluxe, and Collector's Editions.
Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag Resynced Officially Announced, Including Launch Date
Ubisoft has officially announced Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced, a remake of the 2013 title set to launch on July 9, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC. The remake features updated graphics, enhanced gameplay mechanics, and new story content, including a focus on Edward Kenway's wife, Caroline, and his internal struggles. The Collector's Edition will include a statue of Edward Kenway, his journal, and other collectibles.
Why Windrose Is So Hard to Put Down
Windrose, a pirate-themed game, has sold over 1,000,000 copies since its Early Access release, drawing comparisons to Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. The game's success is attributed to its balance of simplicity and complexity, procedural generation, and co-op multiplayer features. While the Early Access build requires further optimization, the game offers a compelling pirate experience.
