Capcom Removes Denuvo DRM for Kunitsu-Gami’s 1st Anniversary
▼ Summary
– Capcom removed Denuvo DRM from Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess a year after its launch, following a history of performance issues linked to the software in other games like DMC5 and Resident Evil Village.
– Denuvo has been criticized for causing performance drops in Capcom games, with tests showing up to 25% reduced performance in DMC5 and similar issues in Resident Evil Village.
– Monster Hunter Wilds continues to face performance complaints on Steam due to its use of both Denuvo and Capcom’s internal DRM, while Kunitsu-Gami avoided major player backlash over DRM.
– Kunitsu-Gami’s positive critical reception (including an 86/100 score) didn’t lead to strong sales, as it was absent from Capcom’s financial reports and received less promotional support than Exoprimal.
– Capcom plans to boost Kunitsu-Gami’s visibility by releasing it on Nintendo Switch 2 with DLC and celebrating its anniversary with an 8-bit music-themed in-game talisman.
Capcom has quietly removed Denuvo anti-piracy protection from Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess exactly one year after its initial release. The change, spotted in the game’s SteamDB update history, marks another instance where the controversial DRM software has been stripped from a Capcom title after launch. While Kunitsu-Gami largely avoided performance complaints related to Denuvo, the publisher has faced criticism in the past for the technology’s impact on game performance.
Unlike some of Capcom’s bigger franchises, Kunitsu-Gami saw its DRM protection lifted relatively quickly. Major series like Resident Evil and Monster Hunter often retain Denuvo for years, likely due to concerns about piracy affecting sales of these high-profile releases. The decision to remove it from Kunitsu-Gami after just twelve months suggests the game hasn’t maintained strong commercial momentum despite its critical success – our own review scored it an impressive 86/100.
The action-strategy hybrid has been conspicuously absent from Capcom’s financial reports since its debut last summer. During a recent shareholder meeting, executives faced questions about why the company prioritized marketing support for Exoprimal over Kunitsu-Gami, especially considering the latter’s positive demo reception. Capcom responded by emphasizing their ongoing promotional efforts for the new IP, including a planned Nintendo Switch 2 release and additional DLC coming before March 2026.
To mark the anniversary, Capcom is introducing a special in-game talisman that transforms certain background tracks into 8-bit retro versions. While this adds some nostalgic charm, the removal of Denuvo might prove more meaningful for players who’ve experienced performance issues with the DRM in other titles. Digital Foundry previously confirmed Denuvo caused measurable performance drops in Resident Evil Village, while community testing showed similar problems in Devil May Cry 5 before its removal in 2020.
The situation highlights Capcom’s evolving approach to DRM across different franchises. Monster Hunter Wilds continues using both Denuvo and Capcom’s proprietary anti-tamper technology, despite ongoing performance complaints from players. With Kunitsu-Gami’s protection now lifted, fans are left wondering whether this signals a shift in strategy or simply reflects the game’s niche market position. Either way, players can now experience the mythological adventure without the potential performance overhead of anti-piracy measures.
(Source: PC Gamer)
