This is controversial for two reasons: the first is that Denuvo is said to cause performance issues, and the second is that Denuvo will require an internet connection even for the single-player Redfall story.
In February, publisher Bethesda announced that Redfall would launch with Denuvo, anti-piracy software that requires players to have an internet connection to play all games using the system.
Speaking to Eurogamer, Smith acknowledged concerns about Redfall’s online claims.
“There are people who live in places where the power outage or their broadband is terrible, or they compete with family members, because their mother is streaming a movie or their brother is using it. another device,” Smith said. “So I think that’s a legitimate criticism.”
“We are very empathetic,” he continued, adding that Arkane “has already begun working to address the future.”
“We had to do a few things like encrypt your backups and do a bunch of UI work to support it. And so we’re investigating – I can’t promise anything – but we’re actively investigating and working to address this in the future.
Elsewhere, Smith also claimed that a PS5 version of Redfall was originally in development, but was canceled by Microsoft upon its acquisition of parent company Bethesda Softworks.
However, Smith admits that this makes Arkane “worry about a less complex, less platformer” and suggests that Microsoft’s Game Pass could lead to greater success for Redfall. “Game Pass has a lot of people that can play,” Smith said. “This is probably our biggest game because there are 30 million [users of] Game Pass or whatever.”