The Roots of Controversy
Doom Eternal is one of my favorite FPS game sequels because it stays true to the epic "rip-and-tear" gameplay of the original. If you've defeated its demons yourself, you might be familiar with the controversy surrounding the anti-manipulation software Denuvo. It's a DRM technology designed to prevent cheating and piracy. However, it is often criticized by fans who claim that Denuvo causes performance issues.
The Fall of Denuvo in Doom Eternal
Bethesda recently launched Starfield without the software and has now also removed it from DOOM Eternal. After its major update, Doom Eternal implemented the Denuvo Anti-Cheat system. Many players believe that the software causes performance issues while playing and are frustrated with developers who choose to use it. This viewpoint led to the "Doom Eternal Denuvo Review Bomb," an incident where fans left countless negative reviews for the iconic Doom sequel.
Bethesda responds to fan complaints
Despite claims by DRM software that it exists for the benefit of both game publishers and fans, players are not entirely convinced. After years of fan complaints in Steam discussions and on platforms like Reddit, where players reported finding non-Denuvo versions of Doom Eternal, Bethesda has removed the software from the popular FPS sequel.
A trend towards freedom?
It's not very surprising, as several triple-A games are launching without Denuvo. For example, Tekken 8 will not have Denuvo, and Bethesda's latest RPG Starfield also does not include the software. According to its entry in the Steam database, DOOM Eternal is now also free from the controversial DRM technology, following its massive 6.66 update.
Conclusion
The changelog refers to the removal of a "third-party DRM" from the game and then specifies that it is Denuvo. The situation feels similar to Resident Evil Village, which removed Denuvo after the release of the horror giant, or like Octopath Traveler 2 did, as more and more developers and publishers forgo its services.
If you're interested in shooting and looting and want to try something new, you should check out some of the best PC games of this year or browse through some of the coolest free games to have a fresh experience without spending a lot of money.
