How is it possible that Gamepass games can't be cracked on PC?

ChoosableOne

ChoosableAll
The game files are on the computer, yet even hackers who can crack Denuvo haven't been able to crack these games. Is it Microsoft's superior achievement or the incompetence of hackers? Or has it been cracked, and I'm not aware of it?

If it's superior to Denuvo, why do you think other companies aren't using it?

I'm against pirated games btw.
 
Piracy is wrong and glad to hear you are against it. Why do you want to know? Just go play your Gamepass games and let Microsoft and other developers think and worry about their piracy measures.
 
Piracy is wrong and glad to hear you are against it. Why do you want to know? Just go play your Gamepass games and let Microsoft and other developers think and worry about their piracy measures.
If MS can prevent piracy without impacting performance, then it's worth knowing more, since Denuvo impacts performance.
 
As soon as there are desirable exclusive games on gamepass they are going to be cracked immediately.
 
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The game files are on the computer, yet even hackers who can crack Denuvo haven't been able to crack these games. Is it Microsoft's superior achievement or the incompetence of hackers? Or has it been cracked, and I'm not aware of it?

If it's superior to Denuvo, why do you think other companies aren't using it?

I'm against pirated games btw.

IIRC it has been cracked, Forza Horizon 3 for example.

Otherwise, what PC games are on there which aren't also on Steam? Nowadays very few if any.
 
What game specifically are you talking about? Pirates just crack the retail version usually, especially when many games there don't even have drm.

Or are you perhaps talking about cracking gamepass itself? I doubt that'd be possible since users would need to check with MS servers, not to mention even if someone did it, once word got out MS would shut it down in an instant.
 
If MS can prevent piracy without impacting performance, then it's worth knowing more, since Denuvo impacts performance.
Is that true though? Didn't the Gamepass version of a lot of games perform worse than steam versions? I think there were people who were getting 30%+ performance boosts in Deathloop by not calling home with an internet connection and others complaining about stutters on Redfall being worse on the GP version. Not sure if this has been scientifically proven though.
 
IIRC it has been cracked, Forza Horizon 3 for example.

Otherwise, what PC games are on there which aren't also on Steam? Nowadays very few if any.

Why's anyone cracking GP games, when they just crack the retail versions?
Yeah, you're right. But why Microsoft taking these extra precautions then?
What game specifically are you talking about? Pirates just crack the retail version usually, especially when many games there don't even have drm.

Or are you perhaps talking about cracking gamepass itself? I doubt that'd be possible since users would need to check with MS servers, not to mention even if someone did it, once word got out MS would shut it down in an instant.

I guess the op is asking if he had cheap games pass for a month and downloaded a bunch of games.. could he crack them and keep them. 🤷‍♂️
I had mentioned that I am against piracy, I don't need it. I just found it interesting that hackers haven't tampered with these games. They could have hacked the entire system or individually cracked the games you download. It might have been more appealing to download from here and crack them(instead of using torrent etc) (or hack the whole system and use everything for free?). I was just surprised that hackers didn't choose this path. But as mentioned, it may not have been necessary since other versions have already been hacked. And I didn't know Forza 3 had been cracked. I had thought Microsoft was very capable, but now I understand it's due to hacker disinterest. Thank you.
 
Yeah, you're right. But why Microsoft taking these extra precautions then?
Gamepass checks for an active subscription within at least 30 days. Why they take extra precautions even though many of these games are already cracked, the answer is simply to stop casual piracy.

Basically Little Timmy's father cancels the family subscription, only for Timmy to find out DOOM, which was still installed, works perfectly well, and he keeps playing it like that forever.

I just found it interesting that hackers haven't tampered with these games. They could have hacked the entire system or individually cracked the games you download. It might have been more appealing to download from here and crack them(instead of using torrent etc) (or hack the whole system and use everything for free?). I was just surprised that hackers didn't choose this path.
It'd be more risky to do it like that, probably harder too with MS store layers of security. In the end, its easier to just go after the retail versions and host them somewhere.
 
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The Windows Store use online verification to function, while you can play Steam games offline.

I've tried to use multiple hex editors to unlock the pre order bonus for Gears Tactics and any change would revert back to what the servers saved.
 
The Windows Store use online verification to function, while you can play Steam games offline.

FWIW you can play Windows Store games offline as well, similar to how it works with Steam. Try disconnecting your network and launch a game you've previously played and it should work.
 
FWIW you can play Windows Store games offline as well, similar to how it works with Steam. Try disconnecting your network and launch a game you've previously played and it should work.

I tried that, it didn't work too. They have a DRM for that too.
 
I tried that, it didn't work too. They have a DRM for that too.

Worked for me just now, I double checked trying Forza Horizon 4 before I posted, loaded it all the way into the game. (I disabled my ethernet adapter in Windows first.)
 
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Worked for me just now, I double checked trying Forza Horizon 4 before I posted, loaded it all the way into the game. (I disabled my ethernet adapter in Windows first.)

The games do work offline, but im unable to make any changes to how the game works to add dlc items unless they are already in the verison i downloaded. The Windows Store has some DRM that doesn't allow you to change files from games so easily.
 
You have to enable offline for your account.


As for DRM on Windows store, is it anything extra or just the basic file encryption on system files coupled with an online check?

They do something weird with the file system, IIRC it's almost like a virtual drive which is mounted so the folders can be read but not altered by the user.

Windows Store is terrible and it makes sense to use Steam unless you want the Xbox version as well (as in my case, hence tolerating the Windows Store rather than buying two copies of games).

IIRC with Starfield some people said the Windows Store version ran worse than Steam even on the same hardware, so I wonder if there is some real time decryption thing going on as well.
 
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You have to enable offline for your account.


As for DRM on Windows store, is it anything extra or just the basic file encryption on system files coupled with an online check?

I think it's because the game requires Xbox Live Verification.

I can edit the saves for the games to modify things that are only in the game files using JSON or Hexeditiors such as Cheat Engine. But anything that requires a check like DLC items for the store seems to be impossible to unlock.
 
Not even crackers want to use the windows store.
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Windows Store games get cracked the same way other launcher games get cracked.
Assuming no other DRM is present then they just emulate the store and have the exe look to the emulator.
So no its no better than SteamDRM.

P.S Most groups still just crack the Steam versions of Microsoft games since that emulator is so "old" now if a game doesnt have DRM you can crack the games yourself without even waiting for a group to do it.
 
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