Denuvo blocks Pragmata Steam Deck and Linux players, as reviews slam anti-piracy DRM

The debut of Capcom’s sci-fi spectacle has exposed another annoyance of the Denuvo DRM. Because of activation limits, some Steam Deck and Linux gamers are unable to play Pragmata on its release date. Negative Steam reviews reveal how swapping Proton versions can lock players out for 24 hours.

Familiar Denuvo issues on Linux

On social media, Pirat_Nation highlighted the problems that Linux supporters are facing. Not every Denuvo game has the same constraint, but players are only allowed 5 activations per 24 hours. That may become an issue for users who experiment with Proton.

To optimize performance, gamers often try multiple versions of the compatibility layer. Unfortunately, Irdeto’s DRM recognizes each installation as a new machine. Also, since ray tracing isn't available, Steam Deck owners have turned to a launch option to enable the feature. Once again, the anti-piracy protection counts this workaround toward the 5-machine limit.

Although Pragmata Steam reviews are overwhelmingly positive, many negative evaluations express the same concerns. Blocked for a day, Xusies said, “Denuvo implementation here is broken and detrimental to genuine customers.” The user was able to run the Capcom game later after verifying files, but it’s unclear if this is a universal fix.

The publisher doesn’t list the release as Linux-compatible, but it is Steam Deck Verified. Valve fails to mention any critical issues on its website. However, the handheld relies on the Proton compatibility layer to boot games designed for Windows.

For Pragmata Steam Deck players who don’t regularly make tweaks, the DRM isn't such an obstacle. Nevertheless, reviews argue that after purchases, buyers have the right to make changes to their PCs.

Pragmata has been cracked for days

Denuvo has already been under fire for compromising the performance in another Capcom game. A comparison showed that constant anti-piracy checks may affect frame rates in Resident Evil Requiem.

All these criticisms have prompted some players to celebrate the hypervisor bypass. While Linux doesn’t support the method natively, it defeats the protection in the majority of targets.

To see if the game is worth any hassles, Notebookcheck has posted its Pragmata impressions.