Denuvo is a third-party digital rights management (DRM) tool to prevent game piracy. However, it has been known to cause performance issues in some PC games. One such game that was affected by Denuvo was Resident Evil Village, released in May 2021. In this article, we will discuss the recent removal of Denuvo from Resident Evil Village on Steam and its potential impact on the game’s performance.
What is Denuvo?
Denuvo is a DRM tool that many game publishers use to protect their games from piracy. It works by encrypting the game’s executable files and making it difficult for hackers to crack the game. Denuvo was first used in 2014 and has become a popular game publisher tool.
Denuvo’s Impact on Resident Evil Village
When Resident Evil Village was released on PC in May 2021, players quickly noticed that the game sometimes suffered from severe performance issues. Many players reported stuttering and frame drops, especially during cutscenes and other graphically intensive scenes.
Some players suggested that the performance issues were caused by Denuvo, which runs in the background and requires constant authentication checks. These checks are designed to prevent game piracy but can cause performance issues on some PC configurations.
Removal of Denuvo from Resident Evil Village on Steam
On April 10, 2023, SteamDB’s change tracker added an entry that read: “Eliminated third-party digital rights management (DRM) software, Denuvo Anti-tamper, and lifted the limit of activating the software on five different machines within 24 hours.” This action will be well-received by gamers who can now enjoy the game without worrying about any performance issues caused by the DRM software. The removal of Denuvo Anti-tamper from the Steam edition of Resident Evil Village implies that players who previously avoided the game due to reports of its impact on game performance can now enjoy it without any concerns.
Impact of Denuvo’s Removal on Resident Evil Village’s Performance
In July 2021, a “cracked” version of the game was released without copy protection, and it exhibited significantly improved performance compared to the official release. Now that Denuvo is no longer present, players may experience similar performance gains. With the complete removal of Denuvo from the game, it is uncertain whether this will result in further performance enhancements beyond the previously patched version.
Resident Evil Village’s Success Despite Denuvo Issues
Although Resident Evil Village faced some problems on PC, it was a successful launch overall. Capcom reported that the game shipped 5 million copies across all formats faster than the previous three games in the series. This demonstrates the popularity of the Resident Evil franchise and the demand for new games in the series.
FAQs
What is Denuvo?
Denuvo is a third-party digital rights management (DRM) tool to prevent game piracy. It was developed by the Austrian company Denuvo Software Solutions GmbH and was first used in 2014.
How does Denuvo affect game performance?
Denuvo runs in the background and can use many system resources, reducing game performance. Players sometimes have reported severe performance issues when playing games with Denuvo enabled.
Was Resident Evil Village the only game affected by Denuvo performance issues?
Several other games have had performance issues when using Denuvo, including Doom Eternal, Marvel’s Avengers, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
Will removing Denuvo from Resident Evil Village improve the game’s performance?
It is possible that the removal of Denuvo could result in improved game performance, as players have reported better performance when playing ‘cracked’ versions of the game that have had Denuvo removed. However, it remains to be seen if this will be true for all players.
Why do game developers continue to use Denuvo if it affects game performance?
Developers use Denuvo to protect their games from piracy, as pirated copies of games can lead to lost revenue. While Denuvo can affect game performance, developers may see it as a necessary trade-off to protect their intellectual property.
Wrap Up
Denuvo is a controversial DRM tool known to cause performance issues in some PC games. The recent removal of Denuvo from Resident Evil Village on Steam is a positive development for players who have been avoiding the game due to performance issues caused by the DRM tool. With Denuvo gone, it remains to be seen if the game’s performance will improve further. Despite its problems, Resident Evil Village thrived at launch and demonstrated the franchise’s popularity.
Selva Ganesh is a Computer Science Engineer, Android Developer, and Tech Enthusiast. As the Chief Editor of this blog, he brings over 10 years of experience in Android development and professional blogging. He has completed multiple courses under the Google News Initiative, enhancing his expertise in digital journalism and content accuracy. Selva also manages Android Infotech, a globally recognized platform known for its practical, solution-focused articles that help users resolve Android-related issues.
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