Video games: piracy costs studios astronomical sums

What is the real impact of piracy on game sales? This debate has been raging in the video game industry for years and it is not about to be resolved. However, a new study published recently allows us to see more clearly.

William Volckmann, a research associate at UNC, took a sample of 86 games sold on Steam between 2014 and 2022 that were protected by the Denuvo DRM. He then tried to see to what extent the publication of a crack and a pirated version of the game impacted the studios' results.

What are the results ?

In detail, the scientist estimated the drop in sales of a game on Steam each week after its release using a tool that combines the number of new Steam user reviews and, for single-player games, the average number of active players. He acknowledges that this method is not infallible, but by applying statistical models to this data, he believes that it allows us to see things a little more clearly.

In concrete terms, a game that is offered in a pirated version during its first week of marketing can result in 20% less revenue for developers. If the crack falls six weeks later, this theoretical cost would only be 5%. Finally, and after 12 weeks, the level of sales is so negligible that the impact is not significant.

Despite everything we can hear, the presence of DRM on a game is therefore not so negligible and there is no doubt that the studios will take a very interested look at the results of this research.

The dangers of piracy for gamers

While pirating games can be tempting, especially in cases where your purchasing power is limited, be aware that you must exercise caution, because cybercriminals have made a habit of placing viruses in these illegal versions of games. In an article published in 2023, we also returned to the risks incurred by gamers who turn to these options. Feel free to check it out here.

Are you surprised by the numbers revealed in this study?? Feel free to share your point of view in the comments.

What to remember:

• A study looked at the impact of video game piracy on sales
• When a game's DRM is cracked in its first week, the impact on revenue is major
• This is no longer really the case after several weeks, so much so that protections are almost useless

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