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ShiftyMarmot Jan 14, 2022 @ 10:11am
Update out of nowhere
I opened Steam and saw that Alice was queued for an update, a 32.32MB update. Does anyone know what it does or changes, or is it nothing? Maybe they removed the activation DRM. :really:
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Originally posted by TheSeek:
Originally posted by TehSpoopyKitteh:
Is the archive containing that file reduced in size at all? If so, it was likely DRM being removed.
The only actual reducing in size was the removal of the .rap file.
The chapter file mentioned in the steamdb link hasn't actually changed(the last modified date is from years ago).
On the contrary, the RefShaderCache-PC-D3D-SM4.upk file(which seems to be a shader cache file) is a whopping 350MB file.
Though a corrispettive RefShaderCache-PC-D3D-SM4.bin file already existed, so even if this change reports the upk file as being added, it probably already existed.
Every other file reported in the change is just some minor size change in localization files.
So all in all, it seems the only substantial difference is the removal of the.rap file, which i'd assume is the DRM layer, maybe?
Every other change is most likely something tied to the DRM as well.
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Showing 1-15 of 62 comments
Raiden_chino Jan 14, 2022 @ 10:13am 
Mine is 140 MB (spanish). I don't even remember if this had DRM.
#1
KenpoJuJitsu3 Jan 14, 2022 @ 10:13am 
I'm with you. This came outta the blue.
#2
ShiftyMarmot Jan 14, 2022 @ 10:15am 
Originally posted by Raiden_chino:
Mine is 140 MB (spanish). I don't even remember if this had DRM.
It uses an CD key activation system, where you get a code that is tied to your EA account, it’s been down for years, and could only bypass it by activating the CD key on your Origin account, then logging in when prompted. Lets hope thats gone.
#3
Evil spirit Jan 14, 2022 @ 10:18am 
Hang out how the info will go, what kind of update came out
#4
Raiden_chino Jan 14, 2022 @ 10:19am 
Originally posted by ShiftyMarmot:
Originally posted by Raiden_chino:
Mine is 140 MB (spanish). I don't even remember if this had DRM.
It uses an CD key activation system, where you get a code that is tied to your EA account, it’s been down for years, and could only bypass it by activating the CD key on your Origin account, then logging in when prompted. Lets hope thats gone.
Oh maybe that's why I don't remember it, I had this game tied to my EA account since forever.

According to Steamdb, there was an update like 20 minutes ago:
https://steamdb.info/sub/8533/apps/
Last edited by Raiden_chino; Jan 14, 2022 @ 10:19am
#5
Lynxie Jan 14, 2022 @ 10:40am 
Anyone got any info?
#6
Zageron Jan 14, 2022 @ 10:47am 
:steamhappy:
#7
Zageron Jan 14, 2022 @ 10:48am 
https://steamdb.info/depot/19681/history/
#8
Lynxie Jan 14, 2022 @ 10:53am 
This is sooo confusing...
#9
Railwitch Jan 14, 2022 @ 11:02am 
Why this game even updating.... it was removed from store years ago, so strange
#10
Daethar Jan 14, 2022 @ 11:04am 
I patched it and launched the game without problems. Couldn't launch it before because of the DRM, now it works no problem. So I think ShiftyMarmot is right. They fixed drm
#11
hogaN. Jan 14, 2022 @ 11:06am 
I think it might be because of my support ticket that all these games are getting updates:

STEAM every time I format my PC I have to verify Cache on these games:

Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light
F1 2013
Mafia 2 CLASSIC
Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 2
Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® 3
DiRT Showdown
Borderless gaming app
Bioshock Infinite
Saints Row The Third CLASSIC
Warhammer Space Marine
F1 Race Stars
GRID 2
Hitman Absolution
Sniper Elite v2 ( NON Remastered )
Alice Madness Returns
Call of Duty Black Ops 2
Call of Duty Black Ops 2 ZOMBIES
Call of Duty Black Ops 1
The Bureau XCOM Declassified
Lord of the Rings War in the North
DeathSpank
DeathSpank Thongs of Virtue
Homefront
Double Dragon Neon

Lets see if the others get updated also.
Last edited by hogaN.; Jan 14, 2022 @ 11:07am
#12
matt03king Jan 14, 2022 @ 11:20am 
Case closed. After the update, at least i don't need an origin to launch it anymore. should be working on other ppl's devices too if i understand it right. let's hope gaben decides to keep it this way from now on.
#13
Caliery Jan 14, 2022 @ 11:42am 
Added – AliceGame/CookedPC/Maps/Chapters/Chapter1/Chapter1_L1/Chapter1_L1_Roof_01_S.umap (209.62 KiB)
Added – AliceGame/CookedPC/RefShaderCache-PC-D3D-SM4.upk (342.76 MiB)
Removed – Binaries/Win32/AliceMadnessReturns.par (285 B)
Removed – AliceGame/CookedPC/Maps/Chapter1_L1_Roof_01_S.umap (209.62 KiB)
Modified – AliceGame/CookedPC/Maps/AliceEntry.umap (+3.46 KiB)
Modified – AliceGame/CookedPC/Maps/AliceEntryExtra.umap (+3.02 KiB)
Modified – AliceGame/CookedPC/Maps/AliceEntryManual.umap
Modified – AliceGame/CookedPC/Maps/AliceEntryManual_LOC_DEU.upk (-143 B)
Modified – AliceGame/CookedPC/Maps/AliceEntryManual_LOC_ESN.upk (+235 B)
Modified – AliceGame/CookedPC/Maps/AliceEntryManual_LOC_FRA.upk (+1.20 KiB)
Modified – AliceGame/CookedPC/Maps/AliceEntryManual_LOC_INT.upk
Modified – AliceGame/CookedPC/Maps/AliceEntryManual_LOC_ITA.upk (+32 B)
Modified – AliceGame/CookedPC/Maps/AliceEntryManual_LOC_JPN.upk (-1.42 KiB)
Modified – AliceGame/CookedPC/Maps/AliceEntry_LOC_DEU.upk (-155 B)
Modified – AliceGame/CookedPC/Maps/AliceEntry_LOC_ESN.upk (+278 B)
Modified – AliceGame/CookedPC/Maps/AliceEntry_LOC_FRA.upk (+1.21 KiB)
Modified – AliceGame/CookedPC/Maps/AliceEntry_LOC_INT.upk
Modified – AliceGame/CookedPC/Maps/AliceEntry_LOC_ITA.upk (+49 B)
Modified – AliceGame/CookedPC/Maps/AliceEntry_LOC_JPN.upk (-1.42 KiB)
Modified – Binaries/Win32/AliceMadnessReturns.exe (+589.77 KiB)
Modified flags for installscript.vdf – None › InstallScript
#14
TheSeek Jan 14, 2022 @ 11:47am 
Originally posted by Hoil Hurtler:
Added – AliceGame/CookedPC/Maps/Chapters/Chapter1/Chapter1_L1/Chapter1_L1_Roof_01_S.umap (209.62 KiB)
Added – AliceGame/CookedPC/RefShaderCache-PC-D3D-SM4.upk (342.76 MiB)
Removed – Binaries/Win32/AliceMadnessReturns.par (285 B)
Removed – AliceGame/CookedPC/Maps/Chapter1_L1_Roof_01_S.umap (209.62 KiB)
I was about to post this...
Chapter1_L1_Roof_01_S.uma is something related to the part where she meets Pris on the roofs, though it seems weird they removed it and then readded it, instead of modifying it like the other files.
I remember the game needed the .par file otherwise the game wouldn't launch, no idea what is it for though.
No idea what that SM4 file might be.
#15
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Date Posted: Jan 14, 2022 @ 10:11am
Posts: 62

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