Writer Capcom has been including file-protection software program to its again catalog of video games on Steam, seemingly as a part of the corporate’s efforts to crack down on piracy — but in addition on PC mods, which the corporate claims are “no totally different than cheats” for its video games.
Whereas the addition of software program referred to as Enigma Protector to Capcom’s video games has been happening for months, Steam customers say, the problem got here to a head earlier this month when the writer up to date 2013’s Resident Evil: Revelations on PC. That replace triggered noticeable efficiency points, in response to gamers, and Capcom shortly reverted the change. However Capcom said in an update on Steam that it plans to rerelease that replace.
Customers on Steam have since pushed again on this, adding “mostly negative” reviews for Resident Evil: Revelations. Many opinions cite the “mod-blocking DRM” as a main issue of their detrimental opinions.
Enigma Protector is a third-party software program package deal designed to assist shield executable information from person makes an attempt at “hacking, evaluation, modification and disassembly,” in response to its builders. In follow, the software program helps to dam recreation mods in Capcom’s video games.
Capcom has recognized mods as a problem with its video games in latest months. In October, the builders of Capcom’s RE Engine, the sport software program that powers video games like Avenue Fighter 6, Monster Hunter Rise, and a number of Resident Evil video games, mentioned that mods could cause “reputational harm” and develop into a burden on buyer assist.
“The picture of a product is tarnished when mods are launched that violate public order and morals with out permission,” Capcom developers said in a YouTube video about anti-cheat and anti-piracy measures for in-house growth. “Mods might be mistaken for reputable implementations and might trigger unhealthy publicity.”
Capcom skilled a extremely publicized incident of unhealthy publicity with a mod in one in all its marquee video games final summer time: An unofficial Avenue Fighter 6 match streamed footage on Twitch of the fighting game with a naked Chun-Li mod put in. Previous to Avenue Fighter 6’s launch, Capcom also issued a warning to players of a modified version of the game’s closed beta version, saying that they may very well be ineligible for the Capcom Professional Tour and Avenue Fighter League if discovered enjoying that model.
In December, Capcom additionally reportedly took down movies from a Monster Hunter speedrunning group’s YouTube channel that featured modded variations of Monster Hunter Rise enlargement Sunbreak. In accordance with YouTube channel Team Darkside, “Capcom Japan’s authorized crew goes after Sunbreak movies on YouTube which characteristic any sort of mod and concern takedown requests and copyright strikes. […] Many movies of fellow [Monster Hunter] speedrunners have been taken down, some speedrunners even acquired 3 strikes and their channels have been deleted.”
Capcom’s video games are incessantly modded on PC. Mods for its Avenue Fighter and Resident Evil video games supply various costumes for its characters that vary from salacious to hilarious. Different mods supply various graphics choices or sturdy cheats in video games like Monster Hunter Rise.
However it seems that Capcom is ramping up its efforts to dam mods in its PC video games, with Steam customers reporting that a minimum of eight titles have applied Enigma Protector. An unconfirmed listing of Capcom video games that use it consists of Resident Evil 5, Avenue Fighter thirtieth Anniversary Assortment, and a number of Mega Man Legacy Assortment titles.
Capcom’s use of Enigma Protector is separate from the corporate’s different anti-piracy measures, which incorporates using DRM product Denuvo. Video games like Resident Evil Village and Avenue Fighter 6 have used Denuvo in an try to curb piracy.
Polygon contacted Capcom with an inventory of questions relating to its use of Enigma Protector to verify which titles implement the software program. We’ve additionally requested the corporate about its official stance on PC mods. Capcom had not responded to requests by press time.