Why Denuvo Should Not Be Used In NBA 2K26 ?

It Hurts User Experience and Performance

The NBA 2K franchise is built around competitive gameplay and modding flexibility. However, the inclusion of Denuvo Anti-Tamper has proven to significantly degrade the experience.

• Reported issues include FPS drops, input latency, and longer loading times.
  
• Sports games demand frame-perfect responsiveness. DRM-induced delays undermine the core gameplay itself.
  
• Even offline play is affected—Denuvo restricts access after server shutdown, potentially locking users out of rosters and content they legally purchased.

It Harms Legal Modding and Community Creativity

• One of NBA 2K’s greatest strengths is its vibrant modding scene. Denuvo:
  
• Disrupts access to essential files (e.g., sync.bin, roster formats),
  
• Interferes with offline editing, archiving, and customization,
  
• Diminishes the legacy and preservation efforts that fans contribute to every year.
  
• Thousands of hours go into building retro rosters, accurate courts, uniforms, and gameplay overhauls. Denuvo directly threatens that legacy.

It Damages Brand Perception and Commercial Trust

• NBA 2K has already been criticized for:
  
• Microtransactions (VC system),
  
• Pay-to-win mechanics,
  
• Locked content behind online walls.

Adding Denuvo on top of these:

• Sends the message that paying customers are not trusted,
  
• Results in negative Steam reviews and community backlash (documented review bombing),
  
• Fails to stop piracy long-term but punishes loyal players immediately.

It Jeopardizes Cultural and Historical Preservation

Each NBA 2K entry captures a moment in basketball history:

• 2K20: Kobe Bryant’s final standard cover.
  
• 2K22: WNBA Career mode debut.
  
• 2K24: The Kobe Challenge returns.

These games are more than products—they’re interactive archives.
But with Denuvo:

• Once servers shut down, games may become inaccessible,
  
• Core features like official rosters and historical teams can be lost forever.

This is not just a technical issue—it’s a cultural loss for the sport and the fans.

Denuvo Doesn’t Stop Piracy—It Only Delays It

• Denuvo’s protection is often cracked within 1 to 3 months.
  
• But 90% of sales for annual sports titles occur within the launch window.
  
• So what does Denuvo achieve?
  
• Temporary delay for pirates.
  
• Permanent restriction for legitimate users.

That’s not protection—it’s a paradox.

Better Alternatives Already Exist

• Steam DRM and server-side validation (already used in MyCareer, MyTeam, Pro-Am, etc.) are sufficient.
  
• Most core features are online-locked already. Offline content shouldn’t be gated further.
  
• Denuvo adds no extra value for developers—but removes value for players.

Even though this is ChatGPT generated, I'll reply, since I'm assuming the underlying points were actually (mostly) your own.

While obviously Denuvo sucks and all, I don't think you've made a good argument for why 2K themselves shouldn't want to use it.

- Reported issues include FPS drops, input latency, and longer loading times.
- Sports games demand frame-perfect responsiveness. DRM-induced delays undermine the core gameplay itself.

This is NBA 2K we're talking about. When has online responsiveness ever been a priority for them? They've had awful servers for years and it hasn't hurt the series.

Even offline play is affected—Denuvo restricts access after server shutdown, potentially locking users out of rosters and content they legally purchased.

As long as Denuvo is legal, why should 2K care about this? This is only a good thing for 2K. More reason for you to buy the latest game instead of hanging back on an old one.

It Harms Legal Modding and Community Creativity

2K has been way more anti-modding than pro-modding. They added native mod support at the same time they added Denuvo, but that was obviously just intended to weaken the community's will to produce its own modding framework, while allowing a narrow spectrum of mods that make their game look better than it really does (useful social media propaganda).

It Damages Brand Perception and Commercial Trust

[...]

- Sends the message that paying customers are not trusted,

Clearly this isn't that damaging of a message given how ubiquitous DRM technology is.

- Results in negative Steam reviews and community backlash (documented review bombing),

This feels like ChatGPT getting mixed up. NBA 2K24 was review-bombed on Steam because it was still the old-gen version, not because it used Denuvo. 'Backlash' against Denuvo has essentially been limited to the modding community, which 2K doesn't care about (if it doesn't actively see us as a nuisance).

- Fails to stop piracy long-term but punishes loyal players immediately.

[...]

Denuvo Doesn’t Stop Piracy—It Only Delays It

- Denuvo’s protection is often cracked within 1 to 3 months.
- But 90% of sales for annual sports titles occur within the launch window.
- So what does Denuvo achieve?
- Temporary delay for pirates.
- Permanent restriction for legitimate users.

I'm sorry but where are the cracked versions of NBA 2K24 and 2K25 again... (i.e., the two NBA 2Ks with Denuvo)? Oh yeah, they don't exist, because those games use Denuvo. (There is a sort of quasi-'crack' of NBA 2K25 that I won't elaborate on given the rules of this forum, but it's so tedious and offers so little advantage that it's totally non-threatening and may as well not exist.)

Denuvo games are notoriously difficult to crack.

---

So, in sum, 2K has every reason to continue using Denuvo, and I expect it to.

Even though this is ChatGPT generated, I'll reply, since I'm assuming the underlying points were actually (mostly) your own.

While obviously Denuvo sucks and all, I don't think you've made a good argument for why 2K themselves shouldn't want to use it.

- Reported issues include FPS drops, input latency, and longer loading times.
- Sports games demand frame-perfect responsiveness. DRM-induced delays undermine the core gameplay itself.

This is NBA 2K we're talking about. When has online responsiveness ever been a priority for them? They've had awful servers for years and it hasn't hurt the series.

Even offline play is affected—Denuvo restricts access after server shutdown, potentially locking users out of rosters and content they legally purchased.

As long as Denuvo is legal, why should 2K care about this? This is only a good thing for 2K. More reason for you to buy the latest game instead of hanging back on an old one.

It Harms Legal Modding and Community Creativity

2K has been way more anti-modding than pro-modding. They added native mod support at the same time they added Denuvo, but that was obviously just intended to weaken the community's will to produce its own modding framework, while allowing a narrow spectrum of mods that make their game look better than it really does (useful social media propaganda).

It Damages Brand Perception and Commercial Trust

[...]

- Sends the message that paying customers are not trusted,

Clearly this isn't that damaging of a message given how ubiquitous DRM technology is.

- Results in negative Steam reviews and community backlash (documented review bombing),

This feels like ChatGPT getting mixed up. NBA 2K24 was review-bombed on Steam because it was still the old-gen version, not because it used Denuvo. 'Backlash' against Denuvo has essentially been limited to the modding community, which 2K doesn't care about (if it doesn't actively see us as a nuisance).

- Fails to stop piracy long-term but punishes loyal players immediately.

[...]

Denuvo Doesn’t Stop Piracy—It Only Delays It

- Denuvo’s protection is often cracked within 1 to 3 months.
- But 90% of sales for annual sports titles occur within the launch window.
- So what does Denuvo achieve?
- Temporary delay for pirates.
- Permanent restriction for legitimate users.

I'm sorry but where are the cracked versions of NBA 2K24 and 2K25 again... (i.e., the two NBA 2Ks with Denuvo)? Oh yeah, they don't exist, because those games use Denuvo. (There is a sort of quasi-'crack' of NBA 2K25 that I won't elaborate on given the rules of this forum, but it's so tedious and offers so little advantage that it's totally non-threatening and may as well not exist.)

Denuvo games are notoriously difficult to crack.

---

So, in sum, 2K has every reason to continue using Denuvo, and I expect it to.

You're completely right. I honestly didn’t expect you to catch it, but yes, I wrote it using ChatGPT. I provided the core ideas, though I admit that some of the points were inaccurate.

For example, this part: ''Disrupts access to essential files (e.g., sync.bin, roster formats)''

That’s actually incorrect. However, it would become true if the Denuvo activation servers ever went offline, because then the game would be completely inaccessible.

So, while some statements are technically wrong right now, they could become true under certain circumstances. Overall though, most of the text is accurate.

And regarding this line: ''Denuvo’s protection is often cracked within 1 to 3 months.''

That was meant as a general observation about Denuvo-protected games, not about NBA specifically.

NBA 2K has a much more niche scene compared to something like FIFA, and cracking groups rarely prioritize it. It’s not something that gets cracked every year like more mainstream titles.

Right now, my 2K25 won't even load the online version because of this stupid anti-cheat software. I can only play the offline version, which is not that big a deal since I only play the MyEras mode, but still....very annoying.

Right now, my 2K25 won't even load the online version because of this stupid anti-cheat software. I can only play the offline version, which is not that big a deal since I only play the MyEras mode, but still....very annoying.

But if the Denuvo activation servers are shut down, you won’t even be able to play the offline version.

That’s actually incorrect. However, it would become true if the Denuvo activation servers ever went offline, because then the game would be completely inaccessible.

So, while some statements are technically wrong right now, they could become true under certain circumstances. Overall though, most of the text is accurate.

A statement can be true without contributing to a good argument. The game becoming completely inaccessible would be fantastic for 2K; congrats on reminding them why they should use Denuvo.

And regarding this line: ''Denuvo’s protection is often cracked within 1 to 3 months.''

That was meant as a general observation about Denuvo-protected games, not about NBA specifically.

But that general observation is not even accurate. ChatGPT is probably generalizing over the course of Denuvo's 10+ years of existence. In the past year or two very little has been cracked, and I think it's all been done by a single person (Empress). Denuvo games basically only get cracked now if she feels like taking on the challenge, and she can only manage like 5-10 games a year.

Turns out it was already added, but I still tried.

I'm not going to comment on Denuvo's use for anti-piracy since that's obvious, but if the offline restrictions for custom rosters and the game itself are true, that's where I have a problem (can somebody confirm if this is true or not for 2K25?)

As long as Denuvo is legal, why should 2K care about this? This is only a good thing for 2K. More reason for you to buy the latest game instead of hanging back on an old one.

Vetmin, I respect the work you've put to your mods and your contributions to the community, but this is not a good business practice to defend (I know you're speaking in the perspective of 2K, but still). It's one thing to justify Denuvo for anti-piracy protection, but the potential risk of being unable to access the game is a genuine concern that has the right to be expressed. This shows a great example of how the gaming industry is turning to having games being a limited time luxury, and then meant to be disposed of when support ends. When growing up, I always got to keep the games I purchased and while I may no longer have online access, I can still play the game whenever I want. Preservation is important. If somebody wanted to stick with a newer NBA 2K game after 25's servers shut down, they should not have to be forced to pick up the next game. There's a reason Stop Killing Games reached over 1 million signatures, as people are pointing out that AAA titles are taking a live service approach where certain games are completely inaccessible once their online servers are shut down.

Even that scenario would be pretty acceptable as you know, they remove the game from stores after about two years. At that point, it’s no longer available for purchase anyway, so they wouldn’t be losing any sales by releasing one final patch to remove Denuvo. But no they won’t do it.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1588 ... TOUR_2K23/

Strangely enough, Denuvo was removed from this today. Maybe they’re finally doing what I’ve been suggesting. Let’s see if NBA 2K24 is next.

I'm not going to comment on Denuvo's use for anti-piracy since that's obvious, but if the offline restrictions for custom rosters and the game itself are true, that's where I have a problem (can somebody confirm if this is true or not for 2K25?)

As long as Denuvo is legal, why should 2K care about this? This is only a good thing for 2K. More reason for you to buy the latest game instead of hanging back on an old one.

Vetmin, I respect the work you've put to your mods and your contributions to the community, but this is not a good business practice to defend (I know you're speaking in the perspective of 2K, but still). It's one thing to justify Denuvo for anti-piracy protection, but the potential risk of being unable to access the game is a genuine concern that has the right to be expressed. This shows a great example of how the gaming industry is turning to having games being a limited time luxury, and then meant to be disposed of when support ends. When growing up, I always got to keep the games I purchased and while I may no longer have online access, I can still play the game whenever I want. Preservation is important. If somebody wanted to stick with a newer NBA 2K game after 25's servers shut down, they should not have to be forced to pick up the next game. There's a reason Stop Killing Games reached over 1 million signatures, as people are pointing out that AAA titles are taking a live service approach where certain games are completely inaccessible once their online servers are shut down.

No "but still"; that parenthetical is my entire point! I'm not defending anything about what 2K is doing; I'm criticizing the type of argument being made in the OP. It's like if I posted a thread titled "A Moral Argument for Why Scammers Should Stop Scamming People", as if theoretically a scammer who were presented with that argument would say "Oh, gee, he's right! I'll stop ripping people off now!" It's just a silly way to approach the problem. A company like 2K is going to take whatever path they legally can to maximize profits; that's a given. If anything they're doing is anti-consumer then the solution is to put the screws to them by external action, like organizing boycotts, pushing for legal reform, etc., not trying to argue that they should be self-motivated to change course.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1588010/PGA_TOUR_2K23/

Strangely enough, Denuvo was removed from this today. Maybe they’re finally doing what I’ve been suggesting. Let’s see if NBA 2K24 is next.

We'll see, but keep in mind that the NBA equivalent of that game was recently de-listed from Steam altogether, so I don't think this is reflective of some general 'code' they're following catalogue-wide. PGA Tour 2K brings in peanuts compared to NBA 2K, so it wouldn't surprise me in the least if they are comparatively chill about that series and super cutthroat about NBA 2K. It's abundantly clear at this point that they absolutely do NOT want you playing anything but the latest 2K, and my guess is that they'll continue to do whatever they can within the law to prevent you from doing so.

Actually, that’s not entirely correct, because there’s no such game as PGA TOUR 2K24. Naturally, 2K23 is the second-to-last title in the series. 2K usually only keeps the latest game and the one before it listed on the store. So PGA TOUR 2K23 will remain on sale until the next PGA TOUR game is released.

As for NBA 2K24, if it gets delisted from the store without receiving any Denuvo removal update, that will make everything clear. WWE 2K is a much smaller franchise compared to NBA, and it never had Denuvo at all. I was actually surprised when they first added Denuvo to NBA. It wasn’t something I expected.

If Denuvo truly prevents you from accessing the games once the servers go down or you're unable to load custom rosters then I have no interest in getting another NBA 2K again. I've been frustrated with the gameplay direction the series has gone with the green or miss shooting mechanics, inaccuracies and lack of attention to eras, and other gameplay adjustments clearly focused on the park side of the game rather than the NBA portion. I've tried very hard to make the best of eras in 2K23 and 2K24 but the gameplay kills any enjoyment that I try and create, so I feel like "This is a great feature, but if I can't enjoy the gameplay, I don't see the point." As an anti-piracy measure I don't care that a DRM of that kind is implemented (which is good for company profit) but if I'm already losing so much of the game as is once the servers shut down for years now and possibly even more, then I'll gladly stick with an older title. I've been having a blast with the older 2K titles not only because they're arguably better feeling to play, but I still have access to a large portion of the game including the ability to load custom rosters (remember, this was a huge problem with 2K23 until a very late patch). Ideally, I should not have to say that I have more fun playing a game like 2K9 or 2K10 with one reason being the ability to do much more with the game without 2K's support, but I do.

2K25 Denuvo wasn't cracked. That makes it a huge success in fighting piracy. It's safe to say that 2K26 will not have Denuvo removed, either. Unless there are incredible performance issues and they hit some sales benchmark or something.