The medieval action-RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 (KCD 2) will not include digital rights management (DRM) software at launch. Developer Warhorse Studios confirmed this following online discussions where some gamers claimed the game would feature DRM.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 Developers Clarify No DRM Will Be Used
Reports of KCD 2 Launching With DRM Are Completely False
Warhorse Studios has officially stated that its medieval action-RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 will not incorporate any digital rights management (DRM) system. This clarification came after speculation emerged among players that the game would use DRM. During a recent Twitch showcase, Warhorse Studios PR lead Tobias Stolz-Zwilling addressed fan concerns, explicitly confirming that KCD 2 will not use Denuvo DRM. He also discussed the confusion and "misinformation" that led to numerous developer inquiries about the technology.
"The precise situation is that KCD 2 will not include Denuvo," Tobias stated. "It won't have any DRM system whatsoever. We never confirmed it would. There were some internal discussions, of course. Some miscommunication occurred, and misinformation spread, but ultimately there will be no Denuvo at all."
He further requested that players stop repeatedly asking the development team about DRM implementation. "With that clarified, I'd appreciate it if we could consider this matter closed. Please stop commenting on every post we make to ask 'Is Denuvo in the game?'" He emphasized that "unless Warhorse makes an official announcement," any circulating rumors about KCD 2 are "untrue."
DRM systems are frequently associated with performance problems in games, which explains why players are often concerned about their inclusion. Denuvo, which also functions as anti-piracy protection for game code, has been particularly controversial among PC gamers. Some players claim the DRM tool can make games partially or completely unplayable in certain situations.
Denuvo product manager Andreas Ullmann has responded to criticisms of the software. In an interview, Ullmann suggested that the negative perception of Denuvo within the gaming community stems from misinformation and confirmation bias, adding that the intense opposition to its use sometimes becomes toxic.
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 is scheduled for release in February 2025 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. The game is set in medieval Bohemia and follows Henry, a blacksmith apprentice who witnesses his village's destruction. Backers who pledged at least $200 to the game's Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign will receive a complimentary copy.
