Fans of James Bond are abandoning 007 First Light after IO Interactive resorts to a classic villain tactic.

      James Bond enthusiasts are canceling their pre-orders at a faster rate than Q can create a gadget.

      The revival of James Bond in gaming has encountered a hurdle. Just six days ahead of the May 27th launch of 007 First Light, a disclaimer regarding Denuvo (a controversial anti-piracy software) was discreetly added to its Steam page. This prompted many fans who had pre-ordered the title to back out.

      This situation isn't unique. Publishers have developed a pattern of implementing Denuvo shortly before release. A similar occurrence happened with Crimson Desert in March, where players received little notice, resulting in considerable backlash. IO Interactive is even more problematic, giving purchasers only a six-day lead time.

      Should you be concerned about performance?

      That depends on whom you consult. The effects of Denuvo on performance differ from game to game. Notebookcheck has reported minor frame rate variances in Resident Evil Requiem after examining its Denuvo setup.

      Players also mention that games featuring Denuvo usually have extended loading times. Furthermore, even if you're engaged in a single-player game, an online connection is required to verify the game, which can be quite frustrating.

      007 First Light has already drawn attention with its system requirements suggesting 32GB of RAM for 1080p at 60 FPS, raising valid concerns over potential performance overhead. The developers later revised this requirement down to 16GB.

      There’s also anxiety surrounding long-term accessibility and the necessity for server authentication for the game. These are legitimate worries, especially for a title at full price.

      Is Valve doing enough?

      Gamers on Reddit and the Steam forums are voicing their discontent. They are urging Valve to mandate that publishers reveal the use of Denuvo prior to accepting pre-orders, akin to ongoing concerns regarding undisclosed generative AI components in games.

      Whether IO Interactive will address these issues before the launch remains uncertain. If gaming companies can learn from history, it's that such actions will alienate even their most loyal fans.