Denuvo: Protection That Penalizes Players and Sales

[Narako]

The implementation of Denuvo Anti-Tamper in Monster Hunter Wilds, confirmed on Capcom's official Steam page, has reignited debates about the side effects of this technology. While the company aims to combat piracy, evidence suggests that DRM harms the experience of legitimate players and, paradoxically, can reduce sales instead of protecting them.

Technical Impact: Compromised Performance

Performance tests on various games show that Denuvo significantly increases loading times. In Ghostwire Tokyo, for example, the DRM-free version took 54 seconds to load the main menu, while the protected version took 200 seconds—almost four times longer ([80.lv](https://80.lv/articles/testing-reveals-games-with-denuvo-launch-up-to-four-times-slower/)). Other games like Borderlands 3 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider also showed significant differences:

| Game | With Denuvo | Without Denuvo |
|----------------------|----------------|----------------|
| Ghostwire Tokyo | 200 seconds | 54 seconds |
| Borderlands 3 | 102.8 seconds | 61.8 seconds |
| Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 86 seconds | 29 seconds |

Additionally, independent benchmarks on Resident Evil Village and Hogwarts Legacy confirmed that removing Denuvo led to noticeable improvements in FPS and stability ([Tom’s Hardware](https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/publishers-face-20-percent-game-revenue-reduction-if-denuvo-drm-is-cracked-quickly-according-to-new-study)).

Impact on Sales: The Irony of "Protection"

Studies indicate that Denuvo can generate an initial 20% increase in revenue by delaying piracy. However, this benefit fades after three months when the protection is cracked or removed. Ironically, DRM discourages legitimate purchases: players report avoiding games with a history of technical issues, like Immortals of Aveum, which had Denuvo removed after widespread performance complaints ([Game FM](https://gamefm.com.br/ea-remove-denuvo-de-mais-um-de-seus-titulos/)).

Capcom faces a similar dilemma. While there is no public data on pre-orders for Monster Hunter Wilds, the community expresses distrust due to past experiences with Monster Hunter Rise and Resident Evil Village. Negative sentiment is amplified in forums like Reddit, where users point out that legitimate players suffer more from performance and modding restrictions than pirates ([Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/pcgaming/comments/oq560w/a_discussion_on_denuvo_anti_tamper_its_impact_on/)).

Divided Community: Frustration and Skepticism

The decision to implement Denuvo has split fans. While a small group defends DRM as a "necessary evil," most criticize the requirement for online verification every 72 hours—an obstacle for players in regions with unstable internet. Modders, a key part of the Monster Hunter community, warn that this protection complicates the creation of modifications, despite Capcom’s promises of technical adjustments ([TechPowerUp](https://www.techpowerup.com/275158/denuvo-drm-pricing-structure-specific-to-crysis-remastered-leaked-over-usd-100k-for-a-year)).

Capcom’s Response (and Contradictions)

Capcom acknowledged technical issues and promised to optimize minimum requirements before launch. However, it insists on keeping Denuvo as "essential protection." This stance contradicts its past decisions: after backlash, the company replaced Denuvo with Enigma Protector in Monster Hunter Stories, yet repeated the same failed strategy in Wilds.

The financial cost is also questionable. Leaks indicate that a Denuvo license can cost up to €140,000 per year for a single title—money that could be reallocated to technical improvements or price reductions ([Game Vicio](https://www.gamevicio.com/noticias/2024/10/denuvo-afirma-que-forum-do-steam-e-muito-toxico-e-hostil/)).

Conclusion: A Digital Own Goal

The case of Monster Hunter Wilds illustrates an industry dilemma: aggressive DRMs protect short-term sales but erode public trust. While Capcom insists on Denuvo, competitors like FromSoftware (Elden Ring) are praised for balancing security and performance. Unless the company rethinks its strategy, it risks turning one of 2025’s biggest releases into a case study on the limits of digital protection.

Sources

- [80.lv - Denuvo’s Impact on Game Load Times](https://80.lv/articles/testing-reveals-games-with-denuvo-launch-up-to-four-times-slower/)
- [Tom’s Hardware - Denuvo Cracking and Revenue Drop](https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/publishers-face-20-percent-game-revenue-reduction-if-denuvo-drm-is-cracked-quickly-according-to-new-study)
- [Game FM - EA Removes Denuvo from Titles](https://gamefm.com.br/ea-remove-denuvo-de-mais-um-de-seus-titulos/)
- [TechPowerUp - Denuvo Licensing Cost](https://www.techpowerup.com/275158/denuvo-drm-pricing-structure-specific-to-crysis-remastered-leaked-over-usd-100k-for-a-year)

[RedQuarters]

Chatgpt

[RedViper]

Lol if you remove all the asterisks and hashtags the AI text detectors go from 20% to 80%. Someone found a way to fool the algorithm.

[space]

so why'd you buy it? and try not to post an ai generated response to that

[Kabaale]

I thought we were here to judge a topic, not the person who posted it.
But here we go

[Sempervirens]

Originally posted by Kabaale:

I thought we were here to judge a topic, not the person who posted it.
But here we go

New to video game forums?

[Nihrahk]

Originally posted by Kabaale:

I thought we were here to judge a topic, not the person who posted it.
But here we go

Welcome to the steam forums.

[Frank Knowhere]

15-20 FPS drops in RE8? Try more LOL.

[Raklap]

Monster Hunter Wilds recorded 35% fewer pre-orders on PC compared to Monster Hunter Rise. Just curious, where do you get the pre-order numbers and dates from? I couldn't find anything like that. The MHR demo peaked at 24K players, while Wild hit 463K. The math isn't adding up. Rise 231k player on launch. I wonder Wilds can reach that?

[YoRHaNexus]

bro did not write any of this by himself. Professor GPT stepped up big time. Also, immortals of aveum lol

[Jeris]

I prefer this topic to all the other point farming topics. So carry on.

Also, Denuvo has never stopped me from buying or enjoying a game.

[Kabaale]

Originally posted by Jeris:

I prefer this topic to all the other point farming topics. So carry on.

Also, Denuvo has never stopped me from buying or enjoying a game.

Pesticide never stopped me from buying food but hey...

[Many-Named]

no you won't pirate the game, ok?

[Kyo Tanaka]

Originally posted by Many-Named:

no you won't pirate the game, ok?

Honestly speaking pirating games with Denuvo is a preferable experience than actually playing with Denuvo.

[Many-Named]

Originally posted by Kyo Tanaka:

Originally posted by Many-Named:

no you won't pirate the game, ok?

Honestly speaking pirating games with Denuvo is a preferable experience than actually playing with Denuvo.

It is yes, but I know the scene and short of Empress cracking it, it usually stays protected. So no you won't be pirating this one any time soon.

[Nauct]

Originally posted by Many-Named:

Originally posted by Kyo Tanaka:

Honestly speaking pirating games with Denuvo is a preferable experience than actually playing with Denuvo.

It is yes, but I know the scene and short of Empress cracking it, it usually stays protected. So no you won't be pirating this one any time soon.

Are you a Capcom gave developer? Shouldn't you be working on the game right now