Crimson Desert Quietly Adds Denuvo DRM Days Before Launch & Gamers Are Furious

Pearl Abyss just made a highly controversial move. Merely a week before its scheduled March 19 release, the developer quietly added Denuvo DRM to the PC version of Crimson Desert. They updated the Steam page with this information out of nowhere. Consequently, PC gamers are furious.

Despite the game surpassing two million wishlists, the community is already calling this decision the “nail in the coffin”. Gamers universally despise Denuvo. This third-party anti-tamper software frequently tanks frame rates and spikes CPU usage. Furthermore, it forces obnoxious online server checks for single-player games. Therefore, players worry about severe performance drops, especially on older hardware.

Crimson Desert carries incredibly high expectations. Initially planned as a Black Desert Online prequel, it evolved into a standalone action-adventure RPG. Currently, many consider it a strong Game of the Year contender. The developers promise an open world larger than Red Dead Redemption 2 and double the size of Skyrim.

Sadly, this DRM backlash follows closely behind another recent controversy. Prior to the PC DRM news, fans suspected the developers were hiding poor PS5 performance. This speculation frustrated one developer enough to snap back, stating they were “sick of having to repeat” themselves regarding console details.

Fortunately, Pearl Abyss finally revealed the console specifications earlier this week. The base PS5 offers three distinct graphical modes. First, Performance mode targets 1080p at 60 FPS. Second, Balanced mode delivers upscaled 4K at 40 FPS. Third, Quality mode provides upscaled 4K (from 1440p) with High Raytracing at 30 FPS. Meanwhile, players utilizing the PS5 Pro can push the Quality Mode to Native 4K with Ultra Raytracing at a steady 30 FPS.

Bioscientist x Tech Analyst. Dissecting the intersection of technology, science, gaming, and startups with professional rigor and a Gen-Z lens. Powered by chai, deep-tech obsessions, and high-functioning anxiety. Android > iOS (don’t @ me).

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