Game updates now restrict certain features due to Denuvo technology.
Game updates now restrict certain features due to Denuvo technology.
we have chosen 5 hardware options for our testing since the copy protection prevented us from exploring alternatives, and we want to know if this really helps curb piracy.
The 5 activations per 24 hour period has been in Denuvo since 2016 (or earlier). It's not a new thing. It was also included in Mafia Definitive Edition. If you haven't run in to it as a problem before it probably won't be a problem now. That is taken from the EULA for Far Cry Primal , which was released in 2016. If something is broken so badly that you need to reinstall the game more than 5 times in a day to get it to work, maybe it's not such a bad thing if you need to take the rest of the day off. Wait for an update or fix to be provided. Reinstalling it the 6th, 7th, 8th... time probably isn't going to fix it, you'll just be wasting your time. Also; I don't think reinstalling it on the same machine actually counts towards the limit. Denuvo states that it applies to 5 distinct computers. That suggests to me they're likely tracking a hardware ID or some other system identifier. Reinstalling it on the same machine multiple times should only count as one install. Changing OS may count as a new install, depending on what they're using to identify a system... But who is not only reinstalling a game more than 5 times in a day but also installing 5 different operating systems? Most scenarios where I can think this might be a problem is scenarios that the DRM is intending to prevent, such as a group of more than 5 friends account sharing and all installing the game on their computers or a gaming cafe installing the game across dozens of PCs from one account. (though, really what's stopping them from spreading the installs out over more than 24 hours?) The only scenario where it might actually prevent somebody from legitimately installing it is if somebody owns more than 5 computers in their home that they play games from. 5 activations in a day allows for Mum, Dad, and 3 kids to all install the game on their own computers in a single day using a single game license . There's no limit on total installs so you could just install it on 5 computers and then install it on any remaining gaming computers in your home on the following day(s). Would it really be that inconvenient to be forced to play on one of your 5 other computers that had it installed on for that first day? That's a rubbish comparison. That comparison of driving a car would only apply if the game prevented you from playing the game more than 5 times a day. A more reasonable comparison to not being able to reinstall a game more than 5 times a day would be like changing the tyres on your car 5 times a day. You don't need to change the tyres every time you drive the car, just like you don't need to reinstall the game each time you want to play it. While it's possible to do, there's really not many scenarios where somebody would change the tyres on their car more than 5 times in a single a day. Once the game is installed on a test system it won't need to be reinstalled. Depending on how the protection works, you might even just be able to swap out the hardware and use the same drive with the game installed on it. You could just install it on 5 systems per day until they're all installed - or purchase multiple copies if you need to install the game on more than 5 systems simultaneously. If a reviewer can afford >5 dedicated test benches just to collect game performance for a hardware review they can afford to buy multiple licenses. Reviewers may even be able to receive free game copies from developers/publishers. So really, I don't see it as being a problem for hardware reviewers.
This feature seems specific to certain titles with Denuvo protection. I haven't encountered any game revealing this restriction on the Steam page, unlike Mafia which openly displays it. You can review it via the provided link: https://store.steampowered.com/app/19415...d_Country/.
It appears to be less of an issue when dealing with Linux systems than on other platforms. From what I understand, it doesn't seem to hinder efforts to bypass activation, since the core goal is circumventing activation checks.
Your questions about its practicality are valid. If people can easily install and run the game multiple times within a day, why limit it further? I'm curious about the reasoning behind this restriction for both the 5-in-24-hour and longer intervals.
Regarding your experience of installing games multiple times daily, I've seen instances where activation was triggered repeatedly. My main concern is the long-term implications—would it be acceptable to activate a game many times in a week, month, or year? I prefer having my license tied to my account for consistent access regardless of the platform.
Windows has moved in that direction, and I believe it was a positive change. Paying for Windows and upgrading hardware didn't require purchasing the software again. PD: I also strongly oppose online activation requirements, finding them more restrictive than the activation limit itself.
You can enjoy Denuvo titles without an internet connection, especially on Steam with offline settings. This isn’t too different from other games that need online activation periodically, which can be annoying but has been around for years. It also helps stop piracy, though not completely—likely more than half of the time.