TouchArcade Rating:
Updates for premium mobile ports usually improve optimization or compatibility. However, Capcom's recent update for Resident Evil 7 biohazard, Resident Evil 4 Remake, and Resident Evil Village on iOS and iPadOS introduces an online DRM system. This DRM checks your purchase history upon launching the games, verifying ownership of the game and any DLC. Rejecting the check closes the application. While this takes only a few seconds with an internet connection, it prevents offline play—a significant drawback from the previous versions which launched and functioned offline.
Pre-update, all three games functioned offline. This change is unfortunate, as it negatively impacts the user experience by requiring an online connection for every launch. While this may not bother everyone, the addition of this always-on DRM to already-purchased games is concerning. Hopefully, Capcom will revise their purchase verification method, perhaps implementing less frequent checks. This update unfortunately makes recommending Capcom's premium ports more difficult.
The games are free to try; download Resident Evil 7 biohazard on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS here. Resident Evil 4 Remake is available 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?
