Crimson Desert adds Denuvo DRM a week before release date, causing pre-order cancellations

Before purchasing a Steam game, opponents of Denuvo check listings for any sign of the anti-piracy software. Gamers thought that the new Pearl Abyss project would lack the controversial protection. However, shortly before the March 19th Crimson Desert release date, Valve confirmed the DRM’s inclusion, potentially impacting performance.

A scathing response from Steam users

Immediately after word spread, the game’s Steam forum became dominated by the same complaint. Most players protest the late addition of Denuvo after they had decided to purchase the title. As a result, buyers are threatening to cancel Crimson Desert pre-orders, which Valve allows before a launch.

Some fans feel misled by Pearl Abyss, based on an earlier interview with a developer. Still, it appears those comments were misinterpreted. The studio only claimed that a decision on anti-piracy measures was pending. Regardless, critics believe the last-minute decision was intentional to secure purchases.

Denuvo encrypts a game’s executable and monitors for altered code. While it has limited piracy, these constant checks can tax CPUs, leading to stuttering. Resident Evil Village is a popular example, prompting Capcom to release a patch to improve frame rates.

In other games, the protection has no detrimental effect on performance. Still, there have already been fears that a massive open world would challenge the most capable PCs. Unfortunately, many Crimson Desert reviews won’t consider the impact of the game’s DRM.

Will Denuvo limit Crimson Desert sales?

As for sales, it isn’t clear whether Denuvo consistently reduces a publisher's revenue. With Resident Evil Requiem, it didn’t prevent the survival horror title from setting new benchmarks for Steam player counts. Typically, companies like Capcom prioritize battling piracy at a game’s launch, where the bulk of sales happen. It’s become common to see the DRM removed several months later.

A leaked Crimson Desert review hinted that the game will satisfy players craving a meaty open-world adventure. Nevertheless, many initial Steam evaluations are likely to focus on the anti-tamper software.