Capcom Updates ‘Resident Evil 4′, ‘Resident Evil Village’, and ‘Resident Evil 7’ on iOS With Online DRM

TouchArcade Rating: While updates for premium mobile ports often improve optimization or compatibility, Capcom's recent update (released an hour ago) for Resident Evil 7 biohazard (Free), Resident Evil 4 Remake (Free), and Resident Evil Village (Free) on iOS and iPadOS introduces unwelcome online DRM. This DRM checks purchase history upon game launch, verifying ownership of the game and any DLC before accessing the title screen. Rejecting the check closes the application. This requires an internet connection for every launch, adding a delay even when resuming a saved game and completely removing offline playability—a significant downgrade from previous versions.

Pre-update testing confirmed offline functionality. Post-update, the aforementioned alert (or a similar one) appears, and refusing the check terminates the game. While this may not bother all users, the forced online DRM in a paid game is concerning. Ideally, Capcom will implement a less intrusive purchase verification method, perhaps one that checks less frequently. This update negatively impacts the recommendation of these premium ports.

The games offer free trials. You can download Resident Evil 7 biohazard on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS here. Find Resident Evil 4 Remake on the App Store here and Resident Evil Village here. Read my reviews here, here, and here. Do you own these Resident Evil titles on iOS? What are your thoughts on this update?