CAPCOM has updated the PC version of Resident Evil 4 Remake with Enigma Protector DRM, and early testing suggests the change has significantly affected CPU performance. The update comes years after the game’s original release, raising concerns among players who previously considered the PC version one of the more stable releases built on the RE Engine.
According to Digital Foundry’s Alex Battaglia, performance testing on a Ryzen 5 3600 paired with an RTX 4070 Super revealed a sharp drop in CPU game throughput following the update. In several gameplay scenarios, overall CPU performance was reduced by as much as 40 percent compared to the pre-update version. The results indicate that the added DRM layer is introducing additional overhead that directly impacts frame rate consistency in CPU-limited situations.
During the Village fight sequence, the performance gap narrowed to around 20 percent. That scene already places a heavy load on the processor due to enemy AI and simulation demands, which partially masks the DRM’s impact. Outside of those more demanding encounters, however, the difference remains noticeable and consistent. The findings suggest that the performance hit is not tied to graphical settings but instead linked to CPU workload.
The decision to add Enigma Protector to an older title has triggered criticism within the PC gaming community. Battaglia commented that updating older software with new DRM can create unnecessary issues for players who already purchased the game. Online discussions across forums and social media reflect similar frustration, with some users questioning the long-term value of adding further protection to a three-year-old release.
CAPCOM has faced similar backlash before. Resident Evil Revelations and Resident Evil 5 also received DRM-related updates after launch, resulting in review drops and community complaints. Critics argue that retroactive changes affecting performance can damage trust, particularly when they affect legitimate customers rather than piracy itself.
Looking ahead, attention is shifting to Resident Evil Requiem, the next mainline installment in the franchise. CAPCOM has confirmed that the upcoming title will include Denuvo DRM on PC with a five-activation limit. While Denuvo has drawn criticism in the past, its performance impact in recent releases has generally been less severe than what is currently being reported for Enigma Protector in Resident Evil 4 Remake.
For now, PC players are left with a version of Resident Evil 4 Remake that performs worse than it did at launch. It remains unclear whether CAPCOM will address the concerns through further updates or adjustments.
