IO Interactive Adds Denuvo DRM to 007 First Light Less Than a Week Before Launch

Overview

IO Interactive has added Denuvo DRM (Digital Rights Management) to 007 First Light less than a week before the game's launch date, according to the Steam store page. The late addition has sparked significant backlash from PC gaming communities who argue the measure hurts legitimate buyers while doing little to stop pirates.

The Denuvo Problem

Denuvo is a third-party DRM solution designed to prevent software piracy during a game's launch window. It operates at a kernel level and has long been criticized for potential performance impacts and longevity concerns — if Denuvo's servers shut down in the future, protected games may become unplayable without a patch. Critics note this effectively holds paying customers' games hostage to Denuvo's continued operation.

Community Reaction

The reaction has been largely negative. PCGaming forums filled with complaints about the last-minute addition. Several commenters noted that bypass tools for Denuvo already reportedly exist, questioning the practical value of the protection. As one commenter put it: "Why do they still bother doing this? All it does is make it worse for the people who actually spend their money on the game."

Context: 007 First Light

007 First Light is IO Interactive's highly anticipated Bond game, with the studio aiming to surpass GoldenEye as "the best Bond game ever made." The game features an original storyline set before James Bond earns his 00 status. The Denuvo addition has put a shadow over what was otherwise a well-received marketing rollout for the title.