Capcom’s recent decision to swap Denuvo DRM for Enigma Protector in the PC version of has backfired spectacularly, leading to significant performance regressions and a wave of negative reviews. While removing Denuvo is often seen as a positive step – typically resulting in performance improvements and better preservation – the replacement with Enigma appears to have had the opposite effect.
The issues began surfacing almost immediately after the update, with players reporting substantial drops in frame rates, increased stuttering, and a higher demand on system resources. The problems are particularly pronounced on the Steam Deck and other Linux-based systems, but are affecting a wide range of PC configurations.
Performance Degradation Confirmed
Initial reports from the community quickly gained traction, with users sharing comparison videos demonstrating the performance hit. A video posted by ItalicMaze on YouTube, for example, showed a near halving of the frame rate on a system equipped with a Ryzen 5 5600 processor and an RX 7600 graphics card. While individual results may vary, the trend is consistent: Enigma Protector appears to be significantly more demanding than Denuvo was.
Benchmarks conducted by PC Guide corroborate these findings. Testing on a system with an Intel i5-13400 processor and an RTX 4060 Ti revealed frame rate drops of over 20 FPS in some scenarios when running the game at 1440p resolution. This isn’t a catastrophic loss for all systems, but it’s a noticeable difference that impacts the overall gaming experience.
Beyond frame rates, users are also reporting increased VRAM usage, further exacerbating performance issues, particularly on systems with limited video memory. This increased demand can force players to lower their graphics settings, diminishing visual fidelity to maintain playable frame rates.
Steam Deck Hit Hard
The impact on the Steam Deck is particularly concerning. Reports indicate frame rate drops of 20-30% on the handheld console, significantly degrading the experience for players who previously enjoyed a smooth gameplay experience. The Steam Deck’s limited hardware makes it especially vulnerable to the performance overhead introduced by Enigma Protector.
Review Bombing and Community Backlash
The performance issues have triggered a wave of negative reviews on Steam, with players expressing their frustration with Capcom’s decision. Recent reviews overwhelmingly cite the DRM change as the primary reason for their dissatisfaction. The community, which had largely welcomed the removal of Denuvo, now finds itself regretting the replacement with a seemingly more detrimental alternative.
Why the Change? A Question of Piracy Prevention
The motivation behind the switch from Denuvo to Enigma remains unclear. Capcom has not publicly commented on the decision. One might assume the change was intended to further deter piracy, but this rationale is questionable given that has already been cracked, with those playing illegally reportedly enjoying a smoother experience than legitimate owners. Denuvo itself was already causing performance issues for some players prior to its removal.
The Problem with DRM
This situation highlights the ongoing tension between developers seeking to protect their intellectual property and PC gamers who prioritize performance and a smooth gaming experience. DRM technologies, while intended to prevent piracy, often come with performance overhead and compatibility issues. The experience with serves as a stark reminder that simply removing one DRM solution doesn’t automatically guarantee a better outcome. The choice of replacement DRM is critical, and in this case, appears to have been a misstep.
PC gamers have long been critical of DRM software, citing performance impacts and potential compatibility problems, particularly with Linux and Proton. The current situation with is likely to further fuel this debate and reinforce the perception that DRM is often more trouble than it’s worth.
Capcom’s recent improvements to the performance of with a recent patch offered a glimmer of hope that the company was prioritizing PC performance. However, the DRM switch demonstrates a concerning pattern of technical missteps and a potential disregard for the concerns of its PC player base.
