The highly anticipated Payday 3 is nearing its full release. But before its launch, the game came under fire for its decision to include Denuvo (an anti-piracy software) a couple of months ago. However, gamers’ voices weren’t brushed aside, as the move was reversed mere days before Payday 3 dropped.

What is Denuvo and Why was it so controversial?

Denuvo is a DRM software which acts as an anti-cheat solution that prevents people from cracking and pirating games. This even helps identify and ban players who are cheating in multiplayer games. While this sounds like excellent software for game developers, it is considered controversial by many gamers. Denuvo claims that its software does not impact the game’s performance, but there has been evidence of a game’s performance taking a hit with the DRM.

Gamers generally have no issues with most DRMs like the Steam DRM. However, the Denuvo Anti-Tamper software often draws much criticism once any new game announces its inclusion. Apart from just performance hits, players fear Denuvo’s authentication servers going down, as it would lock gamers out of their titles. The DRM software implements an aggressive account checking using an internet connection, so the platform’s servers are another risk point that could fail.

Also Read: Titanfall 2 gets a new game mode: First major update in nearly seven years

Payday 3 won’t come with Denuvo

Following the backlash faced by the Payday community, it was announced that Denuvo would not be featured in the upcoming game. This decision caused a boost in pre-launch sales as fans of the franchise heard some welcomed news. Payday 3 is set to launch on September 21, with its early access period kicking off later today. Early access will be offered to those who bought the premium editions of the title. It is worth noting that Payday 3 will also be available on the Xbox Game Pass from September 21.