Tag

Piracy

All articles tagged with #piracy

Subnautica 2 designer: I get why piracy happens, but flaunting it harms launch
gaming11 days ago

Subnautica 2 designer: I get why piracy happens, but flaunting it harms launch

Subnautica 2's design lead Anthony Gallegos says piracy is understandable but flaunting it publicly is frustrating; he can't condone piracy but would rather players buy the game and try it; at launch the game drew about 446,000 concurrent paying players on Steam and later the studio reported over 2 million copies sold across PC and Xbox Series X/S; he stresses the importance of a strong launch and pushes back on misperceptions about his finances.

Forza Horizon 6 Leaks Ahead of Launch; Pirates Face Franchise-Wide Hardware Bans
gaming14 days ago

Forza Horizon 6 Leaks Ahead of Launch; Pirates Face Franchise-Wide Hardware Bans

Forza Horizon 6 surfaced online a week before its release via unencrypted files and a crack. Playground Games vowed strict enforcement against anyone accessing the leaked build, including franchise-wide hardware bans, signaling a tough stance against pirates that could affect sales and Game Pass, even as early impressions remain broadly positive. Pirates won’t get the full experience, and the incident follows a similar prior leak pattern seen with Death Stranding 2.

Forza Horizon 6 leaks surface after Steam upload slip
technology15 days ago

Forza Horizon 6 leaks surface after Steam upload slip

Playable copies of Forza Horizon 6 appeared on piracy sites days before launch after Microsoft briefly uploaded about 155 GB of unencrypted files to Steam; CrackWatch and other communities quickly reported that the game’s copy protection was cracked and leaks spread on social media, raising concerns about potential revenue impact ahead of the official May 19 release (May 15 for the Premium Edition).

Forza Horizon 6 Leaks Weeks Early After Unencrypted Steam Preload
gaming15 days ago

Forza Horizon 6 Leaks Weeks Early After Unencrypted Steam Preload

Forza Horizon 6 appeared online before its official launch after Steam reportedly allowed an unencrypted pre-load, with about 155GB of files and a DLC unlocker available to pirates; the incident mirrors a prior Death Stranding 2 leak and could impact early sales and Game Pass engagement, though the game's co-op and ghost multiplayer features may cushion the hit, and Valve may tighten pre-load checks in the future.

Forza Horizon 6 leak on Steam triggers piracy bans ahead of launch
gaming15 days ago

Forza Horizon 6 leak on Steam triggers piracy bans ahead of launch

Forza Horizon 6 briefly appeared as unencrypted files on Steam before its May 19 release, with the leak fixed quickly but allowing some users to download cracked copies. A content creator was shown receiving an extreme ban (69,895,509 hours) from the Forza Community team, illustrating Microsoft’s hardline stance on piracy. The incident echoes past enforcement and comes as Playground Games recently detailed the game’s features and map in a post-release breakdown.

Forza Horizon 6 Crack Circulates Online Ahead of Release
gaming15 days ago

Forza Horizon 6 Crack Circulates Online Ahead of Release

The full version of Forza Horizon 6 has leaked online and been cracked before its May 19 launch after Steam preload files (~150GB) appeared on file-sharing sites; cracks bypass online checks, Reddit users noted the leak and posts were removed, and Microsoft has not commented. The game, set in Japan with Tokyo’s neon district and more than 550 cars, is also planned for PS5 later this year, with Playground Games and Turn 10 continuing the release plans.

Trump likens US naval action to piracy amid Iran port blockade
world24 days ago

Trump likens US naval action to piracy amid Iran port blockade

At a Florida rally, Trump said the US Navy 'took over' a ship as part of the blockade of Iranian ports, joking that the operation was 'like pirates.' The remark comes amid the broader US-Israel confrontation with Iran, including Iran's tightened control of the Strait of Hormuz and plans to charge ships passing through it. About 45 vessels have been redirected to ensure compliance with the blockade, and officials say the measure will last as long as needed; Iran vows to maintain the chokehold.

Theory: PS4/PS5 game licenses may start with 30-day timers and become permanent after the refunds window
technology27 days ago

Theory: PS4/PS5 game licenses may start with 30-day timers and become permanent after the refunds window

A viral theory suggests Sony’s digital PS4/PS5 game purchases come with a 30-day online license to deter piracy and refund abuse; according to a jailbroken PS4 user, the timer can vanish after about two weeks, at which point the license becomes permanent once the refund window closes. There is no official Sony confirmation yet, and reports are based on YouTube analyses and comments from VGC seeking comment.

Somalia piracy re-emerges as three ships hijacked in a week near Garacad
world27 days ago

Somalia piracy re-emerges as three ships hijacked in a week near Garacad

Three vessels have been hijacked off Somalia in the past week, signaling a potential resurgence of piracy near Garacad after the cement carrier Sward was seized on April 26 and the tanker Honour 25 on April 21, with a dhow captured in between; authorities say the attacks remain ongoing and ships should remain vigilant within 150 nautical miles of the coast. Analysts attribute the rise to better-equipped pirate networks and stretched security forces as navies focus on Red Sea threats, amid broader shipping pressures around Hormuz and Bab el Mandeb, raising the possibility of a longer siege at sea.

Denuvo Tightens Security After Hypervisor DRM Crack
technology28 days ago

Denuvo Tightens Security After Hypervisor DRM Crack

A hypervisor-based bypass of Denuvo DRM prompted the company and its parent Irdeto to announce updated security versions and a new online check requiring verification every two weeks for affected games; FitGirl claimed the bypass makes all single-player Denuvo games cracked, with NBA 2K25/26 and Marvel's Midnight Suns cited as examples; officials insist the changes won't impact performance and will not run in Ring -1, though the DRM raises ongoing debates about ownership and preservation as anti-piracy measures evolve.

Denuvo Bypass Sparks 2K's Online Check-In Push
news28 days ago

Denuvo Bypass Sparks 2K's Online Check-In Push

Hackers claim they bypassed Denuvo DRM using a new HVB bypass, effectively cracking games; in response, 2K is introducing 14-day online check-ins with fixed offline tokens for PC titles like NBA 2K25, NBA 2K26, and Marvel’s Midnight Suns to require periodic online verification.

Piracy resurges off Somalia as UK raises threat level to substantial
world28 days ago

Piracy resurges off Somalia as UK raises threat level to substantial

Maritime authorities warn of a renewed piracy risk off Somalia after a cargo ship was seized and redirected into Somali waters, prompting UKMTO to raise the threat level to substantial. In the last week, at least four vessels (including a fishing vessel and an oil tanker) have been targeted, signaling a comeback after years of decline. Vessels are urged to transit with caution as favorable weather aids small-boat attacks, with confirmed incidents near Garacad and Mareeyo and the 22 April hijacking of the oil tanker Honour 25 reported by security officials.