Kingdom Come: Deliverance II will not include Denuvo or any form of DRM

NEWS Rine Ikarus - Nov 6, 2024, 6:59 PM

In recent years, many prominent game developers have adopted DRM (Digital Rights Management) software to protect their products. These systems come in various forms, including online activation, limited installation rights, single-device restrictions, and protection of game assets. While DRM aims to safeguard developers and publishers from piracy, it allegedly may also degrade game performance.

One of the most infamous DRM systems is Denuvo. Though effective, numerous gamers have claimed that it negatively impacts their gameplay experience and even affects their hard drives. Despite Denuvo’s repeated denials of these issues, the gaming community remains resistant to its inclusion in new titles.

During a Twitch stream showcasing Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 gameplay, when asked about recent rumors from an apparent publisher email stating that Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 would include Denuvo, Warhorse Studios' PR chief, Tobias Stolz-Zwilling, officially confirmed that the game will not include Denuvo or any form of DRM.

"I can tell you right now the exact situation, and the exact situation is Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 will not have Denuvo in there or any DRM systems at all."

The PR head further requested that fans stop raising the issue and reminded the community to rely on official information from Warhorse rather than rumours.

Following this announcement, fans of the original Kingdom Come: Deliverance were relieved, knowing the highly anticipated sequel would be free from DRM solutions. This reaction is understandable, as the first game experienced long load times, performance issues and bugs. Many hope the sequel will offer better optimization and polish.

On the flip side, while DRM solutions like Denuvo sometimes impact gameplay experience, they also bring real benefits to developers. Particularly, although Denuvo’s licensing can be costly, it offers robust DRM protection against piracy. Large-scale games that take years to develop often use DRM to secure revenue in the initial months, and they sometimes remove Denuvo after a few years, as seen with games like Lies of P and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is set to release on February 11, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S, following a delay. If you’re interested in the game, don’t forget to use our price comparison tool to find the best deals on Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2.

Kingdom Come: Deliverance II will not include Denuvo or any form of DRM

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