Doom has removed its anti-piracy protection software from Denuvo recently. The sudden removal has caused rumors that it's no longer effective in protecting game titles from pirates.
Denuvo Explains Removal
The anti-piracy software was removed from Doom because it fulfilled its specified mission according to company representative Robert Hernandez. The Denuvo Anti-Tamper was intended to keep Doom safe from pirates during its initial release period. The fact that the game remained unbreakable for almost four months means that the security software exceeded it expectations. This is the official claim of Denuvo. Doom developer id Software did not comment on its decision to remove the anti-tamper tech. But keeping it doesn't make sense anymore since it has already been cracked anyway.
Denuvo Refund Rumor
There are speculations that Denuvo hands out refunds in case their tech is cracked within a specified time period. This rumor was also denied by Hernandez but won't comment on the kind of agreement it makes with game publishers. He said that it's natural for clients to discontinue their anti-piracy software once the purpose is fulfilled. For example, game publishers will no longer need the Denuvo Anti-Tamper once their games moved to DRM-free machines.
Anti-Tamper Software Crackable
Denuvo's anti-piracy software remained uncrackable for quite some time until recently. Pirated copies of Doom including Rise of the Tomb Raider and Deus Ex: Mankind Divided are now circulating online. It seems the once feared Denuvo Anti-Tamper tech is crackable after all.
Hernandez conceded that it's basically a cat and mouse game with software pirates. His company knows that its anti-piracy tech will be cracked sooner or later. What they can only do is to keep the game safe for a certain period of time. Usually game publishers and developers need the keep the pirates at bay during the initial sales period. This is usually the time where most of the game titles are sold.
