Just when you thought it couldn't get more popular, Denuvo developer Irdeto has announced the anti-cheat software's latest feature: TraceMark for games, a tool that allows developers to add a unique identifier to game assets. The technology will theoretically allow developers and publishers to identify players who leak game material before release, and can be set to be visible or invisible to the user, so you have no idea whether the game is using it or not .
So that no introduction is needed, Denuvo is a DRM software that can be found in many big budget PC versions. It's popular with publishers like Capcom for obvious reasons, and generally unpopular with gamers, some of whom believe it negatively impacts performance (which Denuvo, of course, denies) and are annoyed by the online check-in requirement.
According to Irdeto, the new tool “leverages the core invisible watermarking technology trusted by Hollywood studios” and others, and “uniquely addresses the challenge of content leaks, particularly in the sensitive pre-release phase of game development.” It is claimed to have a chilling effect will have on leakers who can now be tracked down and will apparently “think twice about it”. Hey, aren’t we all concerned with the “overall integrity of the content distribution process”?
The technology will apparently work independently of any attempts to tamper with the source, and Iredto expects it to be particularly useful for pre-release activities such as playtests and closed betas. And, oh no, they come for the journalists! In particular, “the special security concerns associated with press events and the distribution of review copies.” So we’re taken care of.
“With the launch of TraceMark for Gaming, we are setting a new standard in the fight against piracy for the gaming industry,” said Niels Haverkorn, SVP of Irdeto. “This innovative solution not only represents a significant milestone for Irdeto, but also represents a step forward in protecting the creative and financial investments of game developers worldwide. At Irdeto, we understand the unique challenges facing the gaming community, and TraceMark is “Our commitment is to ensure these valuable assets are protected throughout their life cycle.”
We love protecting valuable assets throughout their life cycle. TraceMark can be combined with Denuvo's standard tamper protection software not to see it soon in a game near you.
