TouchArcade Rating:
Capcom's recent update to its iOS and iPadOS ports of Resident Evil 7 biohazard, Resident Evil 4 Remake, and Resident Evil Village has introduced a controversial change: mandatory online DRM. While updates often improve optimization or compatibility, this update requires an internet connection to verify game ownership upon launch. This means offline play is no longer possible. The game checks your purchase history before proceeding to the title screen; refusing the check closes the application. This adds unnecessary inconvenience, especially considering the games previously functioned offline.
Prior to this update, all three titles launched and ran offline. This unwelcome change negatively impacts the user experience and makes recommending Capcom's premium mobile ports more difficult. While the impact may vary for users, the addition of always-on DRM to already-purchased games is a significant drawback. Hopefully, Capcom will reconsider this approach or implement a less intrusive verification method.
The games remain free to try before purchase. You can find Resident Evil 7 biohazard on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS here. Resident Evil 4 Remake and Resident Evil Village are available on the App Store here and here, respectively. Reviews for each game can be found here, here, and here.
Do you own these Resident Evil titles on iOS? What are your thoughts on this update?
