It's because Denuvo can't protect Unity games. The workaround is to create external module that is protected, but crackers can rewrite that module.
-
Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.
Sonic Mania Denuvo DRM cracked
- Thread starter Crimsonclaw111
- Start date
It's because Denuvo can't protect Unity games. The workaround is to create external module that is protected, but crackers can rewrite that module.
Thanks for this. I had actually done similar research, but never got around to posting it. Having read a bunch of stuff, including a detailed Gamespot forum post on how Denuvo works, a thread on how Denuvo works from a post on a cracking community, Denuvo's own site, and my own experience with Denuvo software, I've softened my stance on Denuvo somewhat. Denuvo is as harmful to a system as the developers who implement and integrate the Denuvo API make it to be. I'm willing to eat my hat on that point and fully admit that I was in the wrong there. I showed my ass, and I'm sorry.
The tl;dr on the mechanism by which Denuvo works is that a game designed to work with Denuvo is compiled into an incomplete binary file, and then the game downloads missing code libraries/functions that are customized to a user's specific machine configuration.
Technically, Denuvo's not a software package that wraps around an executable as much as it is a set of code functions that are integrated into existing game functionality at the programmer level. Theoretically, these hooks could be removed without much trouble, depending on how it was implemented.r/goldcakes said:
Truth be told, the biggest convincing factor for me is that I had installed and played RE7 to completion and had no idea that it contained Denuvo until the Mania debacle blew up. I've since uninstalled the game, but I scanned my own system for any residual files or registry keys associated with Denuvo, and found absolutely nothing. So I won't have any reservations about downloading and running Mania, but I'd be interested in seeing if there's any unusual disk or network activity associated with it (I don't think there will be, but it's worth checking).
I still absolutely disagree from a principle standpoint with sneaking in controversial anti-tamper functionality and DRM-type stuff in general. Still, it seems that a lot of ire stems from some previous poor Denuvo implementations that may or may not be linked to actual system damage, and that reputation is proving to be very tough to shake. And technically Denuvo isn't DRM so much as it is a system that enforces existing DRM and prevents the executable from being tampered with, but I think that's an overly fine distinction for the purposes of this discussion. Denuvo still comes with plenty of other reasons to dislike the software: the inability to mod the executable, the ongoing need to periodically phone home whenever any hardware or driver changes are made, among others. I still believe that we should make noise about stuff like this, but all in all, Denuvo's not anything like SecuROM.
Still salty that we found out about it after the game launched, though. Bad optics. That said, I'm about to install and play it. Might as well since I can't get a refund ¯\_(ツ
_/¯Update #3: As expected, Valve says the refund request system would probably deny a request if you'd already spent 2+ hours in the Genesis/MegaDrive emulator prior to it being added to pre-orders, however if you were to instead to submit a support ticket, then that detail would be taken into account. So, just to recap, if you've been having difficulty with receiving a refund despite not having played Sonic Mania for 2+ hours:
1) Don't use the refund request system
2) Instead, go to your purchase history page, find your Sonic Mania pre-order transaction, click it, click Sonic Mania, and lastly click "I have a question about this purchase"
3a) If you don't have 2+ hours of playtime in the emulator, explain that the refund request system was mistakenly denying your requests on the basis of purchase date
3b) If you do have 2+ hours of playtime in the emulator but this was accrued prior to Sonic 1 being added to pre-orders, make this abundantly clear
Your refund should be approved.
lovely trolling from GoG
osnameless
Member
On a slightly related note, the most recent version of RE7 was cracked as well.
CecilRousso
Member
They haven't removed it from any of the Football Manager titles, or Relic's strategy titles, so I doubt it. But one can hope that the much more public backlash against this, makes them do so in this case.
Did it just now get cracked?! I was under the impression that Denuvo prevent mods, and since I've been seeing a lot of Mania mods stuff on youtube since the PC launch, I just assumed it was already cracked!
osnameless
Member
I believe so...
The cracked version includes the fix for the always-online bug that was in the initial release.
My understanding was that it prevents you modifying the executable. Not all modifications require that. Ultrawide modifications frequently do.
I had also read that it's not really possible to remove Denuvo from a game, only bypass the online activation checks.
Doesn't really solve the problem for those of us who dislike it - the game that's distributed officially still has it, and relying on 3rd party hacks is not a real longterm or safe solution.
Nah, I own the game now. I can delete the Steam one off my computer and download the cracked version guilt-free if modding becomes a thing. The drm hasn't impacted me personally yet
If doubters are right and Denuvo stops working in x years, I'll just download the crack. Meanwhile I'm just going to play the game ¯\_(ツ
_/¯Since pirates will have to manually download their patches, I think they're actually worse off. At least that's what people always bring to the table when you nag about the game being tied to Steam. But Denuvo seemingly takes first priority over this so it doesn't matter anymore.
I still think it's fundamentally backwards that you have to rely on pirates if your paid products stops working because of publishers fighting pirates.If doubters are right and Denuvo stops working in x years, I'll just download the crack. Meanwhile I'm just going to play the game ¯\_(ツ
Since pirates will have to manually download their patches, I think they're actually worse off. At least that's what people always bring to the table when you nag about the game being tied to Steam. But Denuvo seemingly takes first priority over this so it doesn't matter anymore.
For sure, it's not an adequate solution. But if s.o. claims pirates are better off then I can only point out that legitimate customers have the same options should the DRM kick the bucket.
TeamLeftMatch
Member
Part of me hopes Sega will remove the DRM officially​ to get some good PR. Part of me also expects Sega won't give a shit and let the pirates off with the better version. It took a week to remove what took Sega 2 weeks to implement (I know they said the port was delayed for optimization​ problems, but the devs said the delay had nothing to do with them and 2 weeks is not enough to fix that many probably the PC could of had).
This is correct. It bypasses all the checks and triggers in the exe.
Tizoc
Member
Thread title should updated to state the game's Denuvo protection go cracked.
Well, sure. The fact that legitimate customers have this option is great - I'm just saying that the fact that this option even needs to exist is what's wrong.
Pirates don't pay. A paying customer should never have a worse product than a thief, that's insanity.
But it's a prevalent thing in the gaming industry for some reason.
Operationgamer17
Member
Or someone could make a topic about it like someone did when Life is Strange's DRM was cracked.
What is even the point? Denuvo does nothing. People who don't pirate get to jump through hoops. People who do just wait for the crack and slide on through hassle free. Does it make pubs feel better and sleep well at night? I guess you can't put a price tag on a good night's sleep...
Storm Chamber
Banned
Delay your game for 2 weeks to implement DRM that'll be cracked in 1 publibrehs
Wowfunhappy
Member
In order to use my credit card online, I have to enter the expiration date and security code. This is somewhat annoying. I'm a legitimate customer, why should I have to prevent the bank from fraudsters?
Wow, this analogy fails so hard man.
That's to protect you, not the credit card company.
Diablohead
Member
uh...
Megatron
Member
Which actually resulted in 3 weeks where the only way to play it was to buy it. And we know game sales are almost always heavily front loaded.
PumpkinSpice
Banned
Even with it cracked, this whole thing made me totally lose interest in this game. I was all set to buy day 1, then this, now I want to never buy at all as a fuck you to whoever made this decision.
This is.... Wtf man
Buy it on a console without Denuvo. The game is fun.
Checkmate, pirates.
Except now the console is the DRM.
Wowfunhappy
Member
No, you're not responsible for credit card fraud, the CC company is. In the US at least.
Azure Dream
Member
Time to patch it out Sega. Hope it was worth the cost, negative press, and lost sales on what was the first Sonic review darling in a long, long time.
Keep this crap out of Forces too. (Of course they won't.)
Keep this crap out of Forces too. (Of course they won't.)
You honestly deserve a tag just for this post. That's the most terrible analogy i've heard in a long time.
Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew
Banned
Got PS4 version via Amazon. No ragrats.
Shifty
Member
I'm glad I decided to check this thread after the title change, as I got to see this fantastic analogy being used. Truly the most incredible thing, thanks, guys.
On topic, though, that's another win for the pirates... or for legit consumers who are going to have to rely on the pirates to get the best copy of a product they legally bought.
On topic, though, that's another win for the pirates... or for legit consumers who are going to have to rely on the pirates to get the best copy of a product they legally bought.
they'll have to delist the game for another two weeks first
Ron Mexico
Member
In case anyone happens to stumble across this, there's been a bunch of threads in OT in regards to disputes and the like, but the short version is this...
...is entirely incorrect. You as the borrower must report any issues to the card provider within 60 days of the receipt of your billing statement. The anti-fraud measures instituted by most card issuers now exist to assist the borrower, not to absolve them from any responsibility.
As for Sonic, still a no-buy until it's removed completely. More a matter of principle than anything.
...is entirely incorrect. You as the borrower must report any issues to the card provider within 60 days of the receipt of your billing statement. The anti-fraud measures instituted by most card issuers now exist to assist the borrower, not to absolve them from any responsibility.
As for Sonic, still a no-buy until it's removed completely. More a matter of principle than anything.
sixteen-bit
Member
I'm probably late to the Sonic Crackers joke