Resident Evil 4 worsens its performance on PC after changing its DRM and the community points out the problem

The last patch introduces a new DRM that causes notable performance drops.

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Over the past few hours, Resident Evil 4 has once again taken center stage among PC gamers, but not exactly for a long-awaited improvement. The game’s latest update has introduced changes that are directly affecting performance, with noticeable drops in frame rates and lower stability compared to the previous version.

Although Capcom only mentioned minor improvements in the patch notes, such as new dubbing languages and additional texts, the community has detected undocumented internal modifications that are having a negative impact on the gaming experience, especially on mid-range equipment and Steam Deck.

The new DRM in Resident Evil 4 causes FPS drops and breaks mods

According to technical analyses shared by specialized content creators, the problem lies in the change in the anti-piracy system. Capcom appears to have replaced Denuvo with Enigma DRM, a less expensive solution for the publisher, but one that is resulting in a clear penalty in performance.

In tests conducted with configurations such as an i5-13400 paired with an RTX 4060 Ti, losses of over 20 FPS have been recorded in certain scenes. Additional comparisons on Steam Deck also show lower stability, longer loading times, and more frequent crashes, which is particularly concerning in a game that was previously known for its good optimization.

Beyond performance, another significant side effect is that numerous mods have stopped working. Enigma DRM blocks modifications that alter the game’s code, which has had a significant impact on a very active part of the PC community, which used mods for both technical and accessibility improvements.

Perhaps the most striking aspect of the situation is that many players now miss Denuvo, a DRM that has historically been criticized for its impact on performance. In this specific case, the previous version offered a more stable experience, which has generated even more frustration following the silent change made by Capcom.