Before *Shízhì Cúnzài* Was Even Released, It Was Already Cracked — Is Denuvo still any use these days?

I’d give it a 7. Because this morning briefing packs quite a bit of information, but the most eye-catching part is still that Pragmata was cracked before release. Capcom’s original IP, kept under wraps for eight years, was supposed to launch on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch 2 on April 17, but the night before release, DenuvOwO had already bypassed Denuvo. You have to admit, that’s awkward—console players were still waiting for the unlock, while a full version was already running on unofficial download platforms. The scene feels a lot like the PS1 era, when pirated discs were sometimes more proactive than the official marketing.

What really stings here is not just that another major title got cracked, but that Denuvo’s protection window is visibly shrinking. The original article also mentioned that in the past it could at least hold out for weeks or even months, but by 2026, its effectiveness is clearly not what it used to be. Resident Evil: Requiem and DOOM: The Dark Ages were also cited as having run into similar situations. At that point, it’s no longer just one unlucky project—it means the whole approach is starting to age. To put it bluntly, if encryption can only delay things by a single day, then it’s more like one of those flashy but non-lethal combo strings in Onimusha: loud and impressive-looking, but not actually stopping anyone.

That said, this does affect purchase decisions for ordinary players to some extent. PC players will likely become more cautious, and launch-day buying intent can easily get diluted; console players probably won’t stop buying over this, since the PS5 and Xbox ecosystems are still valued for being convenient and stable. My personal advice is simple: if you were already interested in Capcom’s new IP, just buy the console version as planned, and don’t treat cracking news as a measure of quality; if you’re only casually paying attention, then wait for launch impressions and performance feedback, and don’t be like the people who’ve been thoroughly fooled by “Game of the Year” trailers over the past few years.

Another item is pretty interesting too: Starfield has appeared with a Nintendo Switch 2 rating on a relevant platform in Taiwan, China. Bethesda Game Studios hasn’t made any official announcement yet, but longtime players know that rating records usually don’t just appear out of nowhere—they’re often a prelude to a multiplatform release. Add to that the fact that Xbox has already confirmed Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is heading to Switch 2, plus NateTheHate previously saying that Starfield on NS2 was only a matter of time, and the signs are already quite strong. Only one question remains: will the NS2 version be a respectable port, or will it be like those old handheld ports that felt like they were gasping for air while trying to load the next area?

If Starfield really does land on Switch 2, I actually think the significance won’t be in sales themselves, but in what it signals. In the past, the console camps had clear-cut barriers like in the Metal Gear era; now it feels more like the transition from late PS2 to early PS3, where the threshold for platform exclusivity is falling and content distribution is becoming a higher priority. Over the past two years, player communities have also become increasingly pragmatic. No one treats “I can only play this on my machine” as a matter of faith anymore—what people care about is whether it runs reliably, when it will go on sale, and whether the port looks like a blurry mess.

Finally, a quick look at PS+: Sony Interactive Entertainment has already announced the new additions for the Extra and Premium tiers in April 2026, with downloads opening on April 21. This time, the second and third tiers include The Casting of Frank Stone, The Crew Motorfest, Football Manager 26 Console, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, Monster Train, Squirrel with a Gun, and Warriors: Abyss, while the Premium Classics Catalog is being supplemented with Wild Arms 4. This lineup isn’t exactly legendary, but it’s not phoned in either. Especially when something old like Wild Arms 4 shows up, players like me who’ve been gaming since the PS1 days will still pause for a moment with the controller in hand. To put it mildly, Sony finally seems to remember that the Classics Catalog isn’t supposed to be just for show.

Taken together, this morning briefing really sends three signals. First, Denuvo’s deterrent power is still declining. Second, Switch 2 is starting to attract more and more AAA titles that once felt far out of its reach. Third, subscription services are continuing down the path of “nostalgia for old games + padding with new releases.” The new generation has been shouting about revolution for years, but the changes that actually feel meaningful are instead these details in platform strategy and release cadence. The games industry is sometimes just like that: the loudest things aren’t necessarily the most important, and what truly changes the industry is often news like this that doesn’t seem all that exciting at first glance.