Denuvo introduces new watermarking tech to help developers trace leaks

19.03.2024 - 12:01 / videogameschronicle.com / Chris Scullion / Nintendo

Security software company Denuvo has introduced new watermarking tech designed to identify leakers.

TraceMark for Gaming is described as a “pioneering watermarking solution” which “leverages the core invisible watermark technology trusted by Hollywood studios, sports leagues, and pay-TV operators”.

Billed as the first watermarking product aimed specifically at the games industry, TraceMark for Gaming can be integrated into a developer’s normal workflow and lets them apply watermarks to a game during development.

The tech can add both visible and invisible watermarks, with each copy of the game featuring a unique mark.

The aim is to help developers find out who’s sharing early code or footage of pre-release games by giving them the tools to track down where it came from.

Denuvo claims the tech enables “the precise tracing of leaked content back to its source”. It adds: “This capability makes potential leakers think twice, knowing that any unauthorised distribution can be directly linked to them.”

The tech appears to be aimed at internal playtesters, closed beta users, the press and content creators – in other words, people authorised to acccess the game early by the developer. The theory is that TraceMark will prevent them from leaking content or leaking backups (for piracy purposes) because it can be traced back to them.

“By marking review copies and press screeners with either visible or invisible watermarks, game developers can add an extra layer of security,” Denuvo says.

“This ensures that if any content is prematurely leaked before the stipulated review embargo periods, it can be accurately tracked back to the source, thereby maintaining the integrity of the game’s official release.”

In August 2023 Denuvo became the first security partner to be added to the Nintendo Developer Portal, which studios can use to access tools and documentation while developing Switch games.

The first tool it offered to Switch developers was Nintendo Switch Emulator Protection, a “revolutionary technology to protect games launching on Nintendo Switch from piracy”.