007 First Light PC Update Removes Denuvo Anti-Tamper

IO Interactive’s PC version of 007 First Light appears to have quietly shed Denuvo Anti-Tamper DRM in a recent update, nearly two months after the game’s original launch. The change is notable not only because Denuvo has a widely criticized reputation among PC players, but also because it wasn’t highlighted in the update’s published patch notes.

Quick facts

007 First Light received an update that removed Denuvo Anti-Tamper on PC
The Denuvo change arrived about two months after the game’s launch
The Steam page’s “3rd-party DRM” notice no longer lists Denuvo
IO Interactive did not mention Denuvo in the update patch notes
The game was reported to be cracked roughly two weeks after launch

The evidence points to Denuvo being removed in the latest update: the update’s changelist no longer aligns with the presence of Denuvo, and the Steam store listing’s yellow notice that previously stated “Incorporates 3rd-party DRM: Denuvo Anti-Tamper” is no longer shown. In addition, IO Interactive’s patch notes for the update don’t call out Denuvo at all, suggesting the DRM switch happened quietly.

Performance feedback also comes from the handheld space. A performance comparison shared by YouTuber Steam Flow suggests 007 First Light runs better without Denuvo, at least on Steam Deck. While the report is not an official measurement, it supports the broader expectation that removing Denuvo can reduce DRM-related overhead.

Why remove Denuvo so late?

It’s not confirmed why the publisher waited nearly two months to remove it, but there’s a key timing detail: pirates reportedly cracked the game after just two weeks. With that kind of early compromise, IO Interactive may have decided it wasn’t worth continuing to pay for the software once the title was already widely available without it.

For PC players—especially those sensitive to stutter, frame-time spikes, or device-specific performance issues—this update effectively marks a meaningful shift in how the game is protected. If the Steam Deck performance signal holds up for other systems as well, the late DRM removal could translate into a smoother experience across platforms that rely on PC builds.