Denuvo's Anti-Piracy Software Faces Gamer Backlash: A Defense and a Failed Attempt at Dialogue
Denuvo, a company specializing in anti-piracy software used by major game publishers, recently found itself at the center of renewed criticism from the gaming community. Andreas Ullmann, Denuvo's product manager, defended the company's technology, attributing much of the negative feedback to misinformation and confirmation bias.
Ullmann addressed long-standing concerns about Denuvo's impact on game performance. He countered claims that removing Denuvo improves performance, stating that cracked versions often contain additional code that negatively affects performance, negating any supposed speed improvements. While acknowledging "valid cases" where performance issues arose (like with Tekken 7), he pointed to the company's FAQ, which claims Denuvo has no perceptible performance impact. This statement, however, contradicts his own admission of performance problems in certain titles.
Ullmann highlighted the substantial benefits of effective DRM for developers, citing studies showing a 20% revenue increase due to reduced early piracy. He argued that this ultimately benefits players through extended game support, additional content, and future iterations. He also blamed the spread of misinformation within piracy communities for fueling negative perceptions of Denuvo.
In an attempt to improve communication, Denuvo launched a public Discord server. However, this initiative quickly backfired. Overwhelmed by a flood of anti-Denuvo memes and criticisms, the server's main chat was shut down within 48 hours, reverting to a read-only mode. Despite this setback, Ullmann remains committed to engaging with the community on other platforms like Reddit and Steam forums.
The future of Denuvo's relationship with the gaming community remains uncertain. While the company aims to foster a more balanced dialogue, its recent Discord experience highlights the significant challenges in bridging the gap between developers and players regarding DRM.
