It looks like Capcom wasn’t joking when it compared modding to cheating last year. The Japanese gaming giant, known for best-selling franchises such as Resident Evil and Monster Hunter, has reportedly begun implementing measures that significantly limit modding capabilities in its games.
Users first noticed indications of this controversial approach in its catalog of older titles like Resident Evil Revelations. Updates to these older titles included the addition of The Enigma Protector, a form of anti-tamper DRM. This software, as detailed on The Enigma Protector’s website, is designed to shield executable files from hacking, analysis, modification, and disassembly.
The introduction of this DRM has led to various performance issues. Players have reported crashes, reduced framerates, and other problems, leading Capcom to temporarily withdraw said patch for Resident Evil Revelations to address these issues. The decision to apply new DRM to older video games have puzzled gamers. Cracked versions of these older titles have likely existed for years, meaning the new DRM impacts legitimate customers more than potential pirates.
Capcom started adding DRM Enigma Protector to their back catalog of games.
This DRM is cancer:
-Prevents modding
-No Cheat engine
-Reduces performance by up to 10-15 fps -Stutters.https://t.co/G4VOhgRB3T pic.twitter.com/QSknWSuun2— PC_Focus 🔴 (@PC_Focus_) January 10, 2024
The situation is made worse by Capcom’s approach to modding, as exemplified by the Monster Hunter speedrunning videos takedown on YouTube channel Team Darkside. The controversy began with an incident involving a Street Fighter 6 tournament, where the broadcast inadvertently featured a modded 3D model of a naked Chun-Li. This event appears to have prompted Capcom to reassess its tolerance for mods, especially considering the potential for embarrassing or inappropriate content to slip through in official or high-profile contexts.
The most aggrieved party, the players, have expressed frustration with Capcom’s approach, particularly regarding the impact on single-player games where modding is generally seen as less problematic. The gaming community has long embraced mods, which often add new features or customization options to games. Capcom’s aggressive anti-modding stance, coupled with the implementation of DRM that affects game performance, has sparked a debate about the rights of players to modify and enjoy games they’ve purchased.
Furthermore, Capcom’s recent presentation on anti-piracy tools suggests an even more concerted effort to prevent the modding, cheating, and piracy of its titles. This strategy may extend to future games, such as the upcoming Dragon’s Dogma sequel and Monster Hunter Wilds, potentially influencing the modding community’s ability to interact with these titles.
The situation highlights a broader issue in the gaming industry, where publishers often make post-release changes to its games, which, more often than not, can and have negatively impacted player experience. This includes adding DRM to older titles, potentially breaking mods, and altering the game in ways that deviate from the original purchase. It raises questions about ownership and control over digital content, especially when updates are forced automatically through platforms like Steam.
Capcom’s recent moves against modding represent a significant shift in the company’s policy, affecting both the performance of its games and the modding community’s engagement with them. This has led to a larger conversation about the rights of gamers to modify and enjoy their purchased content, reflecting the complex relationship between publishers, digital platforms, and players in the gaming industry.
Now that Capcom has started on its DRM campaign, who’s to say it won’t start increasing the prices of its AAA titles?
