The launch of anArkanegame usually comes with a lot of hype, which it duly delivers. SeeDeathloop, andPreybefore that, andDishonoredbefore that. Hence the early excitement forRedfall, which launches next month. However, that excitement has been tainted somewhat. Tainted by the reveal thatthe game will always need to be online, even when playing single-player, and that it will include Denuvo DRM, a decision that has not been reversed despite initial backlash.With less than a month to go until Redfall’s launch, Twitter accountDenuvo Alertshas shared that the game’s Steam page still includes a message that reads, “incorporates 3rd-party DRM: Denuvo anti-tamper.” The inclusion of DRM in games is controversial for a number of reasons. While it’s used to combat cheating,PCplayers, in particular, believe it severely affects performance in some instances, and the biggest issue in Redfall’s case, it requires a constant internet connection.RELATED:Just Let Me Play OfflineArkane has sincepromised to try and walk back Redfall’s always online requirements, and it appeared to really mean what it said. No word on that just yet, but Denuvo DRM remaining in place this close to launch isn’t a promising sign that Arkane continues to try and find a way for Redfall players to be able to play the game without being connected to the internet. Of course, this is problematic for those who don’t have a strong broadband connection.
As for why else DRM waters are tricky to navigate for studios, there’s a belief among many gamers that it actually hinders how well a game can run. The best evidence of that came viaResident Evil Village. Proof was posted shortly after it launched that a cracked version of the game was able to run more smoothly than the real thing.Village has since dropped its Denuvo DRM, long after launch which is commonplace for games that carry it, while the newly launchedResident Evil 4 Remakestill has it.
Redfall’s mixed responses pre-launch extend beyond always online requirements and Denuvo DRM. TheXboxexclusive was also dragged into the arguments over whether theActivision Blizzardmerger should be allowed to go ahead. At the height ofPlayStationtrying to convince everyone official who will listen that the deal is a bad idea, an Arkane dev claimedRedfall was originally going to launch on PS5but when Xbox boughtBethesda, those plans were put on ice. Not a good look for Xbox as it was trying to convince the world it won’t takeCall of Dutyfrom PlayStation if the merger gets the go-ahead.
