Denuvo's Product Manager Addresses Gamer Backlash Over Anti-Piracy Software
Andreas Ullmann, Denuvo's product manager, recently defended the company's anti-piracy software against ongoing criticism from the gaming community. He characterized the community's response as "very toxic," attributing much of the negative feedback, particularly concerning performance issues, to misinformation and confirmation bias.
Ullmann highlighted that Denuvo's anti-tamper DRM is widely used by major publishers, including in recent titles like Final Fantasy 16, to combat piracy. However, gamers frequently claim the DRM negatively impacts performance, often citing anecdotal evidence or unverified benchmarks. Ullmann countered this by stating that cracked game versions, contrary to popular belief, still contain and even add to Denuvo's code, making performance comparisons invalid. He acknowledged that legitimate performance issues have occurred in some instances, such as with Tekken 7, but maintained that these are exceptions.
This statement, however, appears to contradict Denuvo's own FAQ, which claims the software has no perceptible performance impact.
Ullmann acknowledged gamer frustration with DRM, admitting the immediate benefits are not always apparent to players. He argued that the benefits for developers are significant, citing studies showing a 20% revenue increase in games with effective DRM due to reduced early piracy. He suggested that misinformation spread by the piracy community fuels the negative perception, urging gamers to consider Denuvo's contribution to the industry's longevity and avoid unsubstantiated criticism. He emphasized that the success of a game directly impacts updates, additional content, and future iterations.
Denuvo's attempt to improve communication by launching a public Discord server proved short-lived. Overwhelmed by negative feedback and memes, the server's main chat was shut down within two days. Despite this setback, Ullmann remains committed to improving communication with the gaming community through various platforms like Reddit and Steam forums.
Whether Denuvo's increased transparency will change gamer perceptions remains to be seen, but the company's efforts suggest a desire for more constructive dialogue between gamers and developers.
