Anti-piracy software developer Denuvo has taken a bold step in its ongoing battle against video game piracy by filing a lawsuit against a well-known figure in the underground scene, identified only as “voices38.” This individual has been active on Reddit for nearly a year, sharing cracked versions of popular PC games. Denuvo aims to halt this activity, but voices38’s recent response suggests a nonchalant attitude towards the legal action, promising that more cracked games are on the horizon.
Legal Proceedings in California
On Monday, Denuvo initiated legal proceedings in the U.S. Northern District Court of California, targeting voices38 for allegedly tampering with and bypassing the company’s anti-piracy technology. This technology is embedded in numerous titles, including Doom: The Dark Ages, Resident Evil Requiem, and Hogwarts Legacy. Denuvo contends that these actions violate the anti-circumvention provision of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
In court documents obtained by TorrentFreak, Denuvo describes voices38 as a “computer hacker” dedicated to reverse engineering and cracking games that utilize Denuvo’s Anti-Tamper product. The company argues that voices38 has effectively removed digital rights management (DRM) protections, thereby undermining copyright owners’ ability to control access to their works.
A Defiant Response
In a strikingly casual response to the lawsuit, voices38 took to Reddit, stating, “All is fine. Everything will continue as normal.” This comment has garnered significant attention, amassing over seven thousand upvotes, indicating a strong level of support from the online community.
While Denuvo cannot sue for copyright infringement—since it does not hold the rights to the games in question—the DMCA permits any entity adversely affected by piracy to pursue legal action. Denuvo’s business model revolves around selling DRM solutions designed to prevent unauthorized game downloads, which it argues justifies its claim of being harmed by voices38’s activities. Notably, none of the game developers whose titles have been cracked are involved in the lawsuit.
A Comprehensive List of Alleged Cracked Titles
The lawsuit outlines a comprehensive list of games that Denuvo claims voices38 has cracked:
- Need for Speed Heat
- EA Sports FIFA 20
- Star Wars: Squadrons
- Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered
- EA Sports FIFA 21
- Hi-Fi Rush
- F1 2021
- Dead Space (Remake)
- Doom: The Dark Ages
- Mafia: Old Country
- LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight
- Hogwarts Legacy
- Total War: Three Kingdoms
- Starlink: Battle for Atlas
- Shining Resonance Refrain
- PES 2020
- Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD
- Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
- Anno 1800
- Sonic Frontiers
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage
- Pragmata
- Resident Evil Requiem
- Black Myth Wukong
- Stellar Blade
- 007 First Light
This lawsuit marks a significant moment, as it is the first time Denuvo has pursued a video game pirate in the United States through legal channels. The company is currently working to uncover the true identity of voices38, reportedly gathering a list of online profiles, including seven Steam accounts, believed to be linked to the prolific cracker. Denuvo’s next steps will likely involve filing subpoenas to platforms such as Valve and Reddit to gather more information.
In seeking an injunction, Denuvo aims to prevent voices38 from further circumventing or tampering with games protected by its technology. However, public sentiment appears to lean against Denuvo, as many gamers have criticized the company’s software for causing performance issues and hindering legitimate users from accessing their purchased games.
