Denuvo DRM Pricing Structure Specific to Crysis Remastered Leaked, over $100k for a Year

[btarunr]

The Denuvo game copy-protection technology has been a controversial piece of gaming technology since its inception. It enables a game to remain copy protected (and rake in sales) for just as long as pirates don't figure out how to crack it. In even the pre-orders and the few days following release, the developer hopefully makes a return on their investment, and profit. There on, the developer is at the mercy of either the consumer's good conscience (of honestly paying for their proprietary software), or for features of the game that simply won't work with a crack, such as multiplayer gaming on official/ranked servers. Fine and dandy, if not for several reports of sub-optimal Denuvo implementations adversely affecting game performance. Do check out our Denuvo performance-impact article that gets into the nuts and bolts of the DRM solution.

A leaked contract document signed by Denuvo and Crytek CEO dug up by FCKDRM reveals what Crytek paid for Denuvo, and what the DRM's typical pricing structure looks like. It calls for a flat protection fee of 126,000-140,000 Euros for the first 12 months, 2,000 Euros each month following the first 12 months, an additional 60,000€ flat fee in case the game sees more than 500,000 activations in 30 days, a 0.40€ surcharge on activations on the WeGame platform, and 10,000€ for each additional storefront (if the game is being sold in more than one online storefront platform).



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[FinneousPJ]

Burn it all down.

 

[Chomiq]

Scum of the earth.

 

[Vya Domus]

Scum of the earth.

Denuvo or EA ?

Because if you think Denuvo are the sum of the earth you're wrong, they just sell a product. It's the publishers fault, they're the real pieces of shit, when the execs hear about protection against piracy it's like music to their ears. They know fuck all about how any of this works but are convinced it will help them buy another Porsche or whatever the hell they do with their money.

 

[TheDeeGee]

Why even bother when a game get's cracked within 48 Hrs anyways?

 

[Jism]

If a (hot) game has just bin released it increases the chances of a sale. Thats why denuvo exists in the first place.

If a game is good i'll buy it anyway; but invasive shit running onto my computer i dont need that really.

 

[Fourstaff]

Why even bother when a game get's cracked within 48 Hrs anyways?

That's the whole point. For the first 48 hours, the only way is to buy legit. Once it has been cracked and DRM free readily pirated, publishers should remove it to remain attractive.

 

[Chomiq]

Why even bother when a game get's cracked within 48 Hrs anyways?

Not really if you look at the history of past releases that used Denuvo. Some weren't cracked for months.

Denuvo or EA ?

Yes.

 

[DeathtoGnomes]

I think there are those that just dont buy games with Denuvo, I for one do not. I have more than enough ongoing games to to keep me busy enough.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Scum of the earth.

Denuvo or EA ?

Pick one.

Because if you think Denuvo are the sum of the earth you're wrong, they just sell a product.

They sell something which doesn't work for more than a few days and does nothing to stop real pirates. All it does is tread upon the general game player. It's a scummy and lowlife business model lacking any and all merit.

That's the whole point. For the first 48 hours, the only way is to buy legit. Once it has been cracked and DRM free readily pirated, publishers should remove it to remain attractive.

Exactly, so why bother with the hassle? GOG is a VERY successful distro channel and there is very little piracy of their versions of games going on. There is some, but it's minimal compared to the piracy that happens with games from other platforms. Ironic really..

I think there are those that just dont buy games with Denuvo, I for one do not. I have more than enough ongoing games to to keep me busy enough.

Could not agree more!

 

[Vya Domus]

They sell something which doesn't work for more than a few days and does nothing to stop real pirates. All it does is tread upon the general game player. It's a scummy and lowlife business model lacking any and all merit.

I make knifes, murderer uses my knifes to kill someone.

Basically I'm also a murderer, right ?

 

[lexluthermiester]

I make knifes, murderer uses my knifes to kill someone.

Basically I'm also a murderer, right ?

Very poor analogy. Doesn't make any logical sense.

 

[Vya Domus]

Very poor analogy. Doesn't make any logical sense.

I agree it does not make logical sense but it's the same logic you're using.

Publishers can just ... not use Denuvo.

 

[GrayAx]

Why even bother when a game get's cracked within 48 Hrs anyways?

That really isn't the case anymore. Some titles go weeks to months without getting cracked nowadays.
Anno 1800 still hasn't been cracked, 1.5 years after release. RDR2 took a year to crack.
Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, took a month. Doom 2016 wasn't cracked until they rolled out a version of the game without Denuvo, a few months after release.
AC:Valhalla is still uncracked 2 weeks later, etc etc .

Aka, DRM nowadays is actually pretty good at doing what it's supposed to, and in many cases notable quick-cracks like the new DMC or Doom were because of leaked/accidentally available non-DRM-ed versions of games.
In most cases publishers are absolutely getting their money's worth from Denuvo.

How DRM can be anti-consumer, and a potential performance reducer are different discussions however.

 

[Caqde]

If a (hot) game has just bin released it increases the chances of a sale. Thats why denuvo exists in the first place.

If a game is good i'll buy it anyway; but invasive shit running onto my computer i dont need that really.

I have yet to see any proof of these claims they make. I have large doubts that a person that is "shopping" for pirated games would be willing to pay for the game if they can't get it illegitimately. I do however see a better case for someone that doesn't like the DRM scheme refusing to pay for the game and getting it illegitimately because of that. I'd figure using DRM is more of a placebo effect than anything else. It "looks" like it is doing something, but honestly it isn't doing what you think it might be doing.

 

[cyneater]

Double edged sword....
Or two swords....

Besides the fact we all know EA sucks for various reasons...

If games are good and fun people will buy them.
If games are banned or hard to pirate people will pirate them.

One reason I know so many people Acquire games is they are sick of paying for a game that sucks..
Or they cannot wait...
So they acquire a game see if it runs and if its fun.
Maybe bring back shareware or demos???

Sonic mania and a few other games Denoobo slowed the performance of the PC..
Which got attention on forums once removed I bought a copy of sonic mania..
whats the saying all press is good press.

 

[lexluthermiester]

but it's the same logic you're using.

Not even remotely. How did you arrive at that conclusion?

Publishers can just ... not use DRM.

There we go. And yes, that is a completely valid option.

Anno 1800 still hasn't been cracked, 1.5 years after release.

Wrong. It was cracked within 3 days.

RDR2 took a year to crack.

Also cracked in 3 days.

Assassin's Creed: Odyssey, took a month.

Ok that one is in the ballpark, it took a little less than a month.

Doom 2016 wasn't cracked until they rolled out a version of the game without Denuvo, a few months after release.

LOL! You're kidding with that? Doom 2016 was cracked the day of release!

AC:Valhalla is still uncracked 2 weeks later, etc etc .

You clearly do not keep up on the scene. Yeah, that one is cracked...

I'd post proof but it's against forum rules. It's out there, go find it.

Aka, DRM nowadays is actually pretty good at doing what it's supposed to

No it's not, it's a shitshow at best.

I'd welcome you to the forums but it would seem that all you're doing is trying(and failing) to spread FUD and misinformation.

 

[zlobby]

Denuvo or EA ?

Yes.

That's the whole point. For the first 48 hours, the only way is to buy legit. Once it has been cracked and DRM free readily pirated, publishers should remove it to remain attractive.

Yes, indeed. I immediately buy any game that has its DRM stripped. Sadly, not many games see this treatment.

 

[gonsa]

Also cracked in 3 days.

I don't know where you live but RDR2 took indeed a year to crack.
Also, Valhalla cracked? You just make things up?

 

[claylomax]

I don't know where you live but RDR2 took indeed a year to crack.
Also, Valhalla cracked? You just make things up?

And Anno 1800 is still not cracked; I don't know what he's talking about.

 

[Renald]

I think using Denuvo is somehow being ok with "my game is not good enough to be bought" or "I can't demonstrate that's it's fun".
I never use cracked games, I'd rather wait a year to play it if I'm not eager to play it Day one.

That being said, the money they give to Denuvo, the money they spend implementing it, and then the time (so the money also) they use to restore some decent framerate due to Denuvo implementation makes it more costly than it will ever generate income. But I live it every day : different budget = no f*cking sense on global impact.
The marketing team is clueless on what they are selling, meanwhile sales are protecting the software based on "it will protect you 10 days, so it will generate 100k more sells", and the dev team, forced to implement that crap, delaying the game, making it full of bugs, and being harassed the other teams to speed the thing up.
It always end up in a crappy unfinished game for most studio.

Denuvo is the type of crap that should be burn to the ground, and instead educate people. It also makes grey market flourish ...

 

[robot zombie]

I have yet to see any proof of these claims they make. I have large doubts that a person that is "shopping" for pirated games would be willing to pay for the game if they can't get it illegitimately. I do however see a better case for someone that doesn't like the DRM scheme refusing to pay for the game and getting it illegitimately because of that. I'd figure using DRM is more of a placebo effect than anything else. It "looks" like it is doing something, but honestly it isn't doing what you think it might be doing.

Thats my sense too. And theres no reasonable way to guage lost sales saved... you dont have that multiverse viewport to see how sales wouldve been without it. Ive always assumed it couldnt really impact legit sales much. Do pirates always buy games they can't pirate? Half of them probably cant afford it. And then for your paying customers DRM is just a dirty word. A thorn in thier side.

The only time Ive ever noticed DRM, its been bad. I suppose it can only ever be bad if you bump into it. Its only good when you never see it working. Otherwise it really feels like a punishment. And given how much money you can sink into a game with dlc and all, starts to cut really deep into value.

And that thought starts rattling in the back of your skull... if youre gonna pay all of this money just to get messed with by anti piracy measures, why not just take the free version that's had it removed? Its superior and you save hundreds of dollars.

Not saying people should do that. Just getting the thought out. It really doesnt seem like a good deal for anyone but the DRM company. To me, theyre parasites taking advantage of the piracy situation. The difference between them and the pirates is that their money and rep are technically clean. Still dirty to me, though. In my eyes its the poison and the cure. Money printer.

Flipside... piracy is super competitive. Place a challenge in front of the game and more people will be interested in proliferating thier crack. Its a mutual stalemate. DRM has no interest in the dissolution of piracy. It thrives most when piracy is rampant.

 

[Deleted member 177333]

I think it lasted about a month before Crysis Remastered hit the high seas...

 

[bonehead123]

They sell something which doesn't work for more than a few days and does nothing to stop real pirates. All it does is tread upon the general game player. It's a scummy and lowlife business model lacking any and all merit.

^^THIS^^

Die DRM, DIE, like, last decade already....

 

[Bansaku]

These foolish companies who license out Denuvo loose more money through the fee than they would through piracy... which is $0!