In the fight against video game piracy, publishers continue to look at DRM, anti-cheat, and anti-tamper tools to prevent their titles from illegal sharing and cheating. The latest PC title to be confirmed as using DRM measures issuper hero action adventureMarvel’s Avengers, which will utilize the controversial Denuvo DRM system.
Marvel’s Avengersis currently undergoing a closed beta test, and has updated its Steam store page, revealing the presence of Denuvo DRM measures. The Austrian based company is the biggest provider of DRM and other anti-piracy technology, but has a negative reputation with many gamers. In fact, the discovery of its incorporation intoMarvel’s Avengershas already pushed some into staying away from the title. Many gamers anticipated its use however, noting that Square Enix has regularly used the system, including games likeTrials of Mana, although it has recently removed Denuvo fromDragon Quest Builders 2.
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Indeed,the use of Denuvo on some titles has created controversy, with complaints typically suggesting that the DRM reduces performance, and even can damage solid state hard drives with regular writing and accessing. Denuvo’s website specifically denies that either of these issues are caused by its DRM. A number of PC gaming sites and magazines have tested titles for performance results, and typically found little to no discernible impact, with the DRM using a small amount of CPU capacity, and having almost no impact on the GPU. Gamers however, continue to suggest the DRM is impacting their experience.
With so many gamers having issues with Denuvo DRM, a number of developers and publishers have recently reconsidered their use of the technology in specific titles.Bethesda recently removed Denuvo DRM from its 2017 titlePreyas well asDoom Eternal, although the latter denied that Denuvo was the cause of any performance issues. Its systems remain in use on other titles such asBorderlands 3,Football Manager 2020,Resident Evil 3,Death Stranding, and many more.
There is little doubt about the impact video game piracy has on publishers in reducing the potential revenue to be made from new games, but in the battle against piracy, innocent gamers can often get caught in the crossfire.Poorly implemented DRM and anti-cheat measures do little to stop piracy, and make the experience worse for those who pay.
Thankfully DRM measures are far better now than they were ten years ago, and genuine cases ofDRM impacting performance are more infrequent, though still happen. All developers and publishers need to be sure that when incorporating DRM and similar measures into games, it is done with care about the experience players will get.
Marvel’s Avengerswill be released on PC, PlayStation 4, Stadia, and Xbox One on September 4, with a PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X version in development.
