Home Capcom backtracks quickly and removes DRM after players rebel

Capcom backtracks quickly and removes DRM after players rebel

Having caused a storm earlier in the week by stealthily starting to add DRM to its back catalog of games, seemingly to prevent them from being played with mods included but instead causing massive performance hits, Japanese gaming giant Capcom has now removed the offending software update and put games such as Resident Evil Revelations back to normal.

This is in no small part down to gamers review-bombing the living daylights out of the game on Steam causing the 10-year-old game’s rating to plummet. Also, negative press coverage will have ensured Capcom had a difficult choice to make.

Posting on Steam Capcom said, ”Due to an issue observed with the latest update released, we have reverted the corresponding update.

“We apologize for the inconvenience caused, and once the issue is resolved, we will re-release the update. Thank you very much for your patience and cooperation”. With no mention of what the issue was or timeline as to when the update will be re-released, presumably without Enigma DRM, unless it can be fixed this is a tail between the legs moment for Capcom, who notoriously dislike the modding community and believe that the PC is a haven for rampant piracy.

Earlier today PCGamesN reported that a post on the Enigma forums from disgruntled Steam players had been met with a since removed response stating. “Curious, what action do you need from us? And why do you blame us that someone uses our software? Someone uses, we do not push to use it. What is our guilt you think? And why are you so sure that all that you reported belongs to our software? Maybe you are so angered because you can’t use the cheats anymore?”

It is unlikely the review bombing of older games will change Capcom’s stance on DRM and modding in general which it sees as cheating so we expect the DRM to return in a more optimized form.

This story may not yet be over.

Featured Image: Capcom

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Paul McNally
Gaming Editor

Paul McNally has been around consoles and computers since his parents bought him a Mattel Intellivision in 1980. He has been a prominent games journalist since the 1990s, spending over a decade as editor of popular print-based video games and computer magazines, including a market-leading PlayStation title published by IDG Media. Having spent time as Head of Communications at a professional sports club and working for high-profile charities such as the National Literacy Trust, he returned as Managing Editor in charge of large US-based technology websites in 2020. Paul has written high-end gaming content for GamePro, Official Australian PlayStation Magazine,…

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.