CAPCOM Integrates Enigma DRM into Monster Hunter Rise Amid Mixed Reactions

CAPCOM's recent update to "Monster Hunter Rise" has seen the introduction of Enigma DRM, as highlighted by DakaR:FT on Twitter. This move is part of a trend where the publisher is gradually implementing the DRM on its back catalog. With its addition to "Resident Evil Revelations," gamers encountered several performance setbacks, leading to an uproar that manifested in a review bombing campaign on Steam, compelling CAPCOM to withdraw the update.

Despite this, Fluffyquack, the developer behind RETool, expressed skepticism about the accusations against Enigma DRM related to "Resident Evil Revelations." They suggested that Enigma DRM was not necessarily the root of the patch's issues and emphasized that most mods were still compatible with titles protected by Enigma. Fluffyquack also mentioned that CAPCOM's official stance may be unsupportive of mods based on statements from the RE Engine conference, but tangible actions to block modding have not been taken, and no future plans to do so have been indicated.

Observations from the modding community indicate that CAPCOM may alternate between Denuvo and Enigma DRM for its games, possibly employing Denuvo for new releases before transitioning to Enigma later in the game's lifecycle. An example of this was seen with the "Resident Evil 4" demo, which launched with Enigma but saw the full game protected by Denuvo. "Ghost Trick" followed a similar pattern with an initial Denuvo defense before shifting to Enigma. Notably, modding activities flourished even with the "RE4R" demo that featured Enigma.

In reminding readers of the game's background, "Monster Hunter Rise" has been available on PC for two years, brought forth by CAPCOM. The title has been praised for simplifying the franchise's cumbersome elements while marginally reducing the series' traditional depth. However, the benefits of this simplification have been well-received overall, cementing "Monster Hunter Rise" as an accessible entry point for newcomers to the franchise. Furthermore, the PC version stands out for its exceptional optimization and gameplay experience.

Financially, "Monster Hunter Rise" has been a tremendous success for the publisher. As of June 2023, it had sold an impressive thirteen million copies, with the "Sunbreak" expansion contributing an additional six million to the tally.