Anti-piracy software developer Denuvo has initiated legal action against a prominent PC game pirate known online as "voices38." The company accuses the individual of bypassing its anti-tamper technology in over two dozen games and is seeking to halt their activities. However, the pirate has publicly stated that their operations will continue as usual, seemingly unfazed by the lawsuit.
Denuvo filed its lawsuit in the U.S. Northern District Court of California, alleging that voices38 has engaged in reverse engineering and hacking to circumvent the digital rights management (DRM) protections. The suit claims these actions violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act's (DMCA) anti-circumvention provisions. Games mentioned in the legal documents include titles such as Doom: The Dark Ages, Resident Evil Requiem, and Hogwarts Legacy.
In response to the legal proceedings, voices38 posted on Reddit, "All is fine. Everything will continue as normal." This comment has garnered significant attention and support from users on the platform.
While Denuvo cannot sue for copyright infringement directly, as it does not own the rights to the games in question, its business model relies on selling DRM software. The company argues that voices38's actions directly harm its business by enabling piracy. The lawsuit does not name the copyright holders of the affected games as plaintiffs.
The list of games Denuvo claims have been cracked by voices38 includes:
- 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 marks the first time Denuvo has pursued legal action against a video game pirate in the United States. The company is reportedly still attempting to identify voices38 fully, having only compiled a list of online identifiers it believes are connected to the pirate. Denuvo intends to file subpoenas to platforms like Valve and Reddit to uncover more information. The company is seeking an injunction to prevent further circumvention of its technology.
Denuvo's anti-piracy software has faced criticism from gamers who allege it can negatively impact game performance, prevent legitimate owners from accessing purchased titles, and cause other technical issues.