IO Interactive released its AAA title 007 First Light on May 26 this year, surprising players with the inclusion of Denuvo DRM. However, after just two months on the market, IO Interactive has officially removed this DRM layer from the game. SteamDB has tracked this change, meaning the official Steam version of 007 First Light is now DRM-free. This is great news for gamers, as Denuvo DRM and similar solutions have been widely criticized by the gaming community for impacting performance and introducing various quirks and restrictions. For benchmark enthusiasts like us at TechPowerUp, DRMs often impose restrictions on hardware changes, so the removal of DRM is now much friendlier for those who upgrade their PCs or run tests.
As a reminder, IO Interactive announced the inclusion of Denuvo DRM just six days before the game’s official launch. This came as a surprise to those who pre-ordered the game, as the company hadn’t announced it before pre-orders began, leading many gamers to consider canceling their orders. However, now that Denuvo DRM has been removed, they no longer need to worry about potential issues, and the game is officially DRM-free. Putting the DRM controversy aside, 007 First Light has received 89% positive reviews in the last 30 days, indicating that the game is performing well. With restrictions lifted, the reception may become even more positive over time.
As a reminder, IO Interactive recently conducted layoffs at the studio. This follows the end of a relationship with an external partner on their own IP, Project Fantasy. Although IO Interactive did not name the external partner, a Bloomberg report confirmed that it was Xbox. The budget has likely been restricted, and the studio might no longer be able to pay the fee for Denuvo DRM, which is speculated to cost about $30,000 per month. Sales from those opposed to DRM layers might be net positive, as gamers against Denuvo could outnumber those who prefer to pirate games and bypass it.
