Capcom adds new DRM to old PC games, raising concerns about mods
Publisher Capcom has added file protection software to its back catalog of games on Steam, seemingly as part of the company’s efforts to tackle piracy, but also for PC mods, which the company claims are “nothing but cheats” for their games. games.
While the addition of software called Enigma Protector to Capcom’s games has been in the works for months, Steam users say, the issue came to a head earlier this month when the publisher updated its 2013 releases. Resident Evil: Revelations on PC. That update caused noticeable performance issues, according to players, and Capcom quickly rolled back the change. But Capcom said in an update on Steam that it plans to re-release that update.
Users on Steam have since backtracked on this, adding “mostly negative” reviews for Resident Evil: Revelations. Many reviews cite the “mod-blocking DRM” as a primary factor in their negative reviews.
Enigma Protector is a third-party software package designed to help protect executable files from user attempts at “hacking, analysis, modification, and disassembly,” according to the developers. In practice, the software helps block game mods in Capcom’s games.
Capcom has identified mods as a problem with its games in recent months. In October, Capcom’s developers launched RE Engine, the gaming software that powers games Street fighter 6, Monster Hunter is risingand multiple Resident Evil games, said mods can cause “reputational damage” and become a burden on customer support.
“The image of a product is damaged when mods are released without permission that violate public order and good morals,” Capcom developers said this in a YouTube video on anti-cheat and anti-piracy measures for internal development. “Mods can be mistaken for legitimate implementations and cause bad publicity.”
Capcom suffered a highly publicized incident of bad publicity last summer involving a mod in one of its major games: an unofficial Street fighter 6 tournament streamed footage on Twitch of the fighting game featuring a naked Chun-Li mod installed. For Street fighter 6the release, Capcom also warned players about a modified version of the game’s closed betasaying they may not be eligible for the Capcom Pro Tour and Street Fighter League if they play that version.
In December, Capcom also reportedly removed videos from a Monster Hunter speedrunning group’s YouTube channel featuring modified versions of Monster Hunter is rising expansion Sunburn. According to YouTube channel Team Darkside“Capcom Japan’s legal team is looking into it Sunburn videos on YouTube that contain any kind of modification and give takedown notices and copyright strikes. (…) Many videos from fellow (Monster Hunter) speedrunners have been removed, some speedrunners have even received 3 strikes and their channels have been deleted.”
Capcom’s games are regularly adapted to PC. Mods for the Street Fighter and Resident Evil games offer alternate costumes for the characters, ranging from the salacious to the hilarious. Other mods offer alternative graphics options or robust cheats in games such as Monster Hunter is rising.
But it appears Capcom is stepping up its efforts to block mods in its PC games, with Steam users reporting at least eight titles have implemented Enigma Protector. An unconfirmed list of Capcom games that use it includes Resident Evil 5, Street Fighter 30th Anniversary Collectionand multiple Mega Man Legacy Collection titles.
Capcom’s use of Enigma Protector is separate from the company’s other anti-piracy measures, including its use of the DRM product Denuvo. Games like Resident evil village And Street fighter 6 have used Denuvo in an attempt to combat piracy.
Polygon reached out to Capcom with a list of questions about using Enigma Protector to confirm which titles implement the software. We also asked the company for its official stance on PC mods. Capcom had not yet responded to requests at the time of writing.