In a notable shift in the gaming landscape, Gearbox has officially removed the contentious Denuvo anti-tamper technology from its recently released title, Homeworld 3. Launched on PC in May 2024, the decision to eliminate Denuvo comes approximately five to six months after the game’s debut, a move that many players are likely to welcome.
Player Reactions and Industry Trends
Despite the removal of Denuvo, Homeworld 3 currently holds a “Mostly Negative” rating on Steam. While the game’s graphics have garnered praise, numerous players have expressed dissatisfaction with various other aspects, casting a shadow over the experience for long-time fans of the franchise who have yet to dive in.
It’s important to note that the addition of Denuvo was a last-minute decision by Gearbox, which sparked considerable frustration among the gaming community. However, the recent removal of the technology offers a glimmer of hope for those who may have been hesitant to purchase the game due to its previous anti-tamper measures.
Gearbox is not alone in this trend; several other publishers have also opted to remove Denuvo from their titles. For instance, in March 2023, KRAFTON took the step of eliminating Denuvo from The Callisto Protocol. Similarly, NEOWIZ followed suit with its Souls-like game, Lies of P.
The list of games shedding Denuvo continues with notable titles such as:
- Wolfenstein Youngblood
- Ghostwire: Tokyo
- Doom Eternal
- Mortal Kombat 11
- Tekken 7
- NARUTO TO BORUTO: SHINOBI STRIKER
Square Enix has also joined the movement, removing Denuvo from a variety of its PC titles, including:
- The Diofield Chronicle
- VALKYRIE ELYSIUM
- TRIANGLE STRATEGY
- LIVE A LIVE
- Forspoken
- Octopath Traveler and its sequel
- Star Ocean The Second Story R
This trend marks a significant development for PC gamers, particularly those with an interest in Homeworld 3. According to SteamDB, the game peaked at 9,000 concurrent players, but recent figures show a stark decline, with only 60 players active in the last 24 hours. While the removal of Denuvo may not dramatically alter these numbers, it remains to be seen whether this change will encourage a resurgence in player interest.
As the gaming community watches closely, the implications of these decisions continue to unfold, offering a glimpse into the evolving relationship between publishers and their audiences.
