A couple of days ago, we informed you about RAGE 2 using the Denuvo anti-tamper tech. Our findings were based on the Steam version and after we published our article, Bethesda confirmed the existence of Denuvo by updating the game’s Steam store page. However, it appears that its Bethesda Store version is – at least for now – Denuvo-free.
As many players have confirmed, the Bethesda Store version does not currently use the controversial anti-tamper tech. Not only that, but this particular version has already been cracked mainly due to the absence of the Denuvo DRM (our guess is that RAGE 2 uses the latest version of Denuvo which has not been cracked yet).
We seriously don’t know why the publisher decided to use Denuvo exclusively on the Steam version. Perhaps someone at Bethesda released a Denuvo-free version of RAGE 2 on the Bethesda Store by mistake? We’ve seen this happening in some games like F1 2019, Devil May Cry 5 and Resident Evil 2 Remake so this could be possible.
Still, right now the only customers that are being “punished” are those that have legitimately purchased the game on Steam, so here is hoping that the publisher will also remove Denuvo from it too (unless the Denuvo-free version was a mistake so expect a patch to re-implement it in the Bethesda Store version).
It will also be interesting to see comparisons between the Denuvo and the Denuvo-free versions of RAGE 2, though, and as we’ve already stated, RAGE 2 already works like a charm on older CPUs and can scale incredibly well on multiple CPU cores/threads.
John is the founder and Editor in Chief at DSOGaming. He is a PC gaming fan and highly supports the modding and indie communities. Before creating DSOGaming, John worked on numerous gaming websites. While he is a die-hard PC gamer, his gaming roots can be found on consoles. John loved – and still does – the 16-bit consoles, and considers SNES to be one of the best consoles. Still, the PC platform won him over consoles. That was mainly due to 3DFX and its iconic dedicated 3D accelerator graphics card, Voodoo 2. John has also written a higher degree thesis on the “The Evolution of PC graphics cards.”
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lol
Can you test the version without denuvo vs the one with? Loading times and Cpu impact.
Load time on the Denuvo-less exe is about 3x-5x faster.
None of this makes any sense.
Everyone watch internet historians video on falllout 76, the amount of FAIL bethesda went through with that one is insane. So this doesnt surprise me at all.
I’ve just watched it yesterday, I didn’t know that Fallout was that bad until I watched it.
me neither man, seriously its like they are trying to do things they are incapable of doing.
What a fu–ing flex!
Hilarious!
John please update the performance analysis with the Denuvo free version!
That’s weird. Denuvo on one and not the other…
That completely defeats the point. Unless it’s a way of getting some people to buy off Bethesda store. but that doesn’t make sense unless they are making it known or advertising that.
Is this that game where they confused rage with rainbow?
BLERGH
Not even for free this shet is going to my PC.
Lol,i guess they want gamers to buy this game on Bethesda store,and denuvo-less version is just for tease..
Bethesda, never go full r**ard!
(If it helps approval, it’s a quote from the movie Tropic Thunder)
The games that used the Denuvo Anti tamper Tech have been cracked too…so what’s the point?
Nope
Too bad, these days i dont really care for playing games at day one, i can wait the price go down…
But i do love to see Denuvo geting recked
Indeed. Buying day one has never made less sense.
No denuvo = free game
Victory for denuvo, the steam version hasnt been cracked
Considering the goal of Denuvo is to protect a game from piracy specifically during its first two weeks at least, that goal was failed. It’s not Denuvo’s fault though, its bethesda’s incompetence. Putting out a DRM free version of the game on their own store let the game get cracked in less than 24 hours. The fact that the steam version is not cracked makes no difference because its the same exact thing except it has denuvo in it. The pirated version is just the beth.net store version with the online sign in requirement removed.
FCK DRM
no
“Perhaps someone at Bethesda released a Denuvo-free version of RAGE 2 on the Bethesda Store by mistake?”
Incompetence from Bethesda? Unprecedented! /s
Also, Bethesda reportedly kept it quiet up until 24 hours before launch that a bethesda(dot)net account is mandatory if you wish to access any DLC (including pre-order bonus DLC) in the Steam version. Disgraceful.
Hey KIM where is your denuvo again ???
apparently there’s been a miscommunication from bethesda. mister KIM is committed to see this issue solved as soon as it is possible, please stay tuned.
Yesterday I read that this was out and I was surprised. Now I’m reading about it again and I’m just as surprised, again. If someone brings it up a week from now I’ll probably have the same reaction.
legis buyers got denuvo, pirates got denuvo-free version, again.. pathetic pc gaming.. lets make piracy great again..
I kept saying this game will be bad, they still make characters low poly and relying heavily on normal mapping for so called detail like it’s doom 3. Id has not managed to evolve at all.
You know what pisses me off about this? Bethesda could of spent money on the actual game and gave us an even better product- but they chose to waste money(more than 100 000 USD) on a DRM that they themselves rendered pointless by releasing a DRM free version.