Dragon’s Dogma 2 will require an internet connection to play, thanks to the inclusion of the DRM tool, Denuvo.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a single-player game designed around mimicking online multiplayer features. Instead of being able to play in co-op with friends, you’ll use AI-controlled Pawns. These are so advanced that they’ll remember missions they’ve been on with other players and use that knowledge to help. However, despite its insistence on not having any online multiplayer features, you’ll still need the internet to play it. Unfortunately, it’s all thanks to everyone’s favorite anti-cheat software, Denuvo.
Dragon’s Dogma 2 Denuvo Makes Players Need An Internet Connection to Play
Dragon’s Dogma 2 will use Denuvo at launch, a DRM (digital rights management) tool that requires the internet to run. Unfortunately, this means players will need an internet connection when first launching the game in order for Denuvo to validate. Importantly, this only applies to the PC version of the game and not the PlayStation or Xbox versions.
Understandably, this has frustrated fans, who believe that a single-player game shouldn’t require the internet to launch. However, it’s important to note that once you’ve launched Dragon’s Dogma 2 for the first time, you won’t need the internet to play it again, at least for a while. The way Denuvo works is that it only needs to be validated the first time you launch it. After that, it’ll need to periodically check in.
So, for about 30 days, Dragon’s Dogma 2 will be playable offline. Then, you’ll need to launch it with an internet connection again. That way, Denuvo can revalidate itself before it becomes available offline again. This is, of course, incredibly convoluted and, unfortunately, does not offer any real benefits for players.
What Is Denuvo in Dragon’s Dogma 2?
Denuvo is an anti-tamper software that prevents players from modifying it. This is ideal for online multiplayer games, as it prevents players from cheating by installing hacks. However, as Dragon’s Dogma 2 is a single-player game with some very minor and not essential online features, it doesn’t benefit from Denuvo. Capcom, the developer of Dragon’s Dogma, has been implementing Denuvo across all of their games, which is why Dragon’s Dogma 2 has it.
Denuvo has also been heavily criticized for affecting the performance of a game and bringing down the FPS drastically. This is perhaps partially responsible for the heavily criticized performance of Dragon’s Dogma 2, which rarely hits the 30fps target in some areas. Of course, it’s likely not solely responsible, but it may play a hand nonetheless.
Fortunately, Capcom has a habit of removing Denuvo after a while. This was the case with Resident Evil Village recently and has also been the case with some of Capcom’s older games, such as Resident Evil 2 Remake, Resident Evil 3 Remake, and Monster Hunter World. So, while Dragon’s Dogma 2 will have Denuvo at launch, causing those frustrating internet connection requirement issues, it will likely be removed after a year.
Of course, Dragon’s Dogma 2 still has some online elements, even outside of Denuvo. For example, players can only access other player’s Pawns (AI-controlled companions) if they’re connected to the internet. However, you will still be able to unlock new Pawns even if you’re not connected to the internet, as the game creates offline versions. Are you frustrated by the need for an internet connection when first launching the game? Do you wish Dragon’s Dogma 2 didn’t use Denuvo? Let us know in the comments, and make sure to check out our Guide Hub for more Dragon’s Dogma 2 content.