Microsoft’s Advanced Shader Delivery moves shader compilation to the cloud, cutting first-launch load times by up to 95%. Forza Horizon 6 now loads in 4 seconds instead of 90. The feature is now available to all Xbox PC app users.

Microsoft has rolled out Advanced Shader Delivery (ASD) to all Xbox PC app users as of June 11, 2026, eliminating the need for Xbox Insider membership to access the feature. ASD tackles one of the most persistent frustrations in PC gaming: the long shader compilation process that occurs during a game’s first launch. On Forza Horizon 6, ASD reduced initial load time from approximately 90 seconds to just 4 seconds on a system running an AMD Radeon RX 7600 and Ryzen 7 5800, a 95% improvement.

What Is Shader Compilation and Why Does It Cause Problems?

Shaders are small programs that tell a GPU how to render visual effects: lighting, shadows, reflections, textures, and post-processing. When you launch a game for the first time, your system must compile these shaders specifically for your hardware and driver configuration. This process creates the infamous “Compiling Shaders” screen that can last several minutes. Worse, it also causes micro-stutters during gameplay as new shaders are compiled on the fly when entering new areas or encountering new visual effects.

Every driver update can invalidate the shader cache, forcing the entire process to repeat. This has been a fundamental disadvantage of PC gaming compared to consoles, where shader pipelines are pre-optimised for fixed hardware. Microsoft’s DirectX team built Advanced Shader Delivery to close that gap permanently.

How Advanced Shader Delivery Works

The system introduces two standardised data formats. Game developers collect all shader data from their title into a State Object Database (SODB). This SODB is then submitted to the Xbox Partner Center, where Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure, working alongside offline compilers from AMD, NVIDIA, and Intel, generates a Precompiled Shader Database (PSDB) tailored to each GPU architecture and driver version.

When a player downloads a supported game through the Xbox PC app, the application detects the system’s GPU model and driver version. The matching PSDB is automatically delivered alongside the game files. On first launch, the game finds all required shaders already present in the Windows shader cache and skips the compilation step entirely. If a driver update is detected, ASD automatically fetches an updated PSDB, so players never need to recompile manually.

Which Games Support ASD Right Now?

Microsoft published an expanded list of supported titles in June 2026. The roster now includes over 46 games:

• Forza Horizon 5, Forza Horizon 6, and Forza Motorsport
• Avowed
• Starfield
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Black Ops 7
• S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl
• Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
• Crimson Desert
• The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion Remaster
• Hogwarts Legacy
• Silent Hill f
• Ninja Gaiden 4
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
• Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced
• Hades 2
• The Outer Worlds 2
• Sea of Thieves

The list continues to grow as more developers submit their SODB files through the Xbox Partner Center. ASD requires active developer participation, so it cannot be enabled globally for every DirectX game without studio involvement.

System Requirements for Advanced Shader Delivery

To use ASD on your PC, you need the following:

• Operating system: Windows 11 version 24H2 or newer (Windows 10 is not supported)
• GPU: AMD RDNA 1, RDNA 2, RDNA 3, RDNA 3.5, or RDNA 4 architecture
• Driver: AMD Adrenalin 26.6.1 or newer
• Xbox Gaming Services: Version 37.113.11003.0 or higher

The initial public preview in May 2026 was limited to RDNA 3 and newer, but the June 11 update expanded support across the entire RDNA family, covering Radeon RX 5000, RX 6000, RX 7000, and RX 9000 series GPUs. When ASD is active, a “Precompiled shaders installed” message appears in the game’s launch window.

Does ASD Work on Steam or Epic Games Store?

Not yet. Advanced Shader Delivery currently works exclusively with games downloaded through the Xbox PC app or Microsoft Store. Even if the same game exists on Steam or Epic Games Store, ASD will not function with those versions. The reason is architectural: ASD depends on Microsoft Store’s ability to bundle and deliver PSDB files alongside game binaries. Xbox Game Pass subscribers benefit automatically since Game Pass titles are distributed through the same Microsoft Store infrastructure.

Microsoft has confirmed plans to expand ASD to additional storefronts, but neither Valve nor Epic has announced integration timelines. Steam already operates its own shader pre-caching system for Vulkan-based games through Fossilize, but DirectX shader delivery would require separate infrastructure.

What About NVIDIA and Intel GPUs?

ASD launched with AMD hardware support, but the broader ecosystem is expanding. At GDC 2026, NVIDIA confirmed that GeForce RTX users will gain ASD support later in 2026. Intel has already implemented a related solution called Shader Distribution Service for its Arc GPUs, with 13 titles supported as of March 2026.

Meanwhile, NVIDIA offers a separate feature called Auto Shader Compilation (ASC), introduced with GeForce driver 595.97 WHQL. ASC automatically recompiles previously cached DirectX 12 shaders after a driver update while the system is idle. However, ASC does not address first-launch compilation times the way ASD does. It handles only the driver-update scenario, not the initial build of the shader cache. ASD and ASC solve different parts of the same problem and will eventually complement each other once NVIDIA fully integrates ASD support.

How Much Difference Does ASD Actually Make?

The measured results are significant. On Avowed, developed by Obsidian Entertainment, Microsoft reported an 85% reduction in first-launch loading time. On Forza Horizon 6, the improvement reached 95%, dropping from roughly 90 seconds to 4 seconds. Beyond raw loading time, ASD also eliminates the mid-gameplay stutter caused by just-in-time shader compilation. Entering a graphically dense area or triggering new visual effects no longer causes the brief freezes that have plagued PC gaming for years.

For handheld devices like the ROG Xbox Ally, there is an additional benefit. Shader compilation is a CPU-intensive task, and offloading it to the cloud reduces power consumption, directly improving battery life during gaming sessions.

The Bigger Picture: Consoles vs PC

Consoles have always had an advantage in this area because their fixed hardware allows developers to pre-compile shaders during development. PCs, with their vast range of GPU models, driver versions, and hardware configurations, could never replicate that experience until now. ASD effectively gives the PC ecosystem a console-like shader pipeline by centralising compilation in the cloud and distributing hardware-specific packages at download time.

Microsoft has described ASD as part of a broader push to make Windows “act less like a passive runtime and more like an active gaming platform.” Combined with other DirectX advancements announced at GDC 2026, including DXR 2.0 for improved ray tracing and DirectX Linear Algebra for neural rendering, ASD represents a foundational shift in how PC games are delivered and experienced.

Common Questions Players Are Asking

Do I still need Xbox Insider access?

No. As of June 11, 2026, ASD is available to all Xbox PC app users without requiring Xbox Insider enrolment. Just make sure your Xbox Gaming Services and GPU drivers are up to date.

Will ASD work if I change my graphics card?

Yes. The Xbox PC app detects hardware changes and downloads the correct PSDB for your new GPU automatically. No manual steps are required.

Does ASD support every DirectX game?

No. Developers must create and submit an SODB file for their title. Currently over 46 games are supported, with more being added regularly.

Can I use ASD on Windows 10?

No. ASD requires Windows 11 version 24H2 or later. The feature relies on OS-level API support that is not available on Windows 10.

Does it work with Game Pass?

Yes. Xbox Game Pass for PC titles are distributed through the Microsoft Store, so they automatically receive ASD benefits when the game and hardware are supported.

Advanced Shader Delivery is one of the most impactful quality-of-life improvements to hit PC gaming in years. By solving the shader compilation problem at the platform level rather than leaving it to individual developers or hardware vendors, Microsoft is fundamentally changing what “first launch” feels like on a gaming PC. With AMD support now fully live and NVIDIA plus Intel support on the horizon, 2026 is shaping up to be the year shader stutter finally becomes a thing of the past.

Google Chrome is permanently killing full-power ad blockers with the Manifest V3 transition. Chrome 150 removes the last workaround. Here’s what changed, what still works, and which browsers let you keep blocking ads.

Google Chrome is permanently removing the last traces of Manifest V2 support by the end of June 2026. Starting with Chrome 150, the browser will strip out the final compatibility flags that allowed power users to keep legacy extensions alive through workarounds. With Chrome holding roughly 65 percent of the global browser market and an estimated 3.6 billion users worldwide, the impact of this change is massive.

What Is Manifest V3 and Why Does It Kill Ad Blockers?

Manifest V3 (MV3) is Google’s updated architecture for Chrome extensions, first announced in 2018 and gradually enforced since June 2024. The previous system, Manifest V2, gave extensions access to the powerful webRequest API. This API allowed ad blockers to intercept every single network request in real time, inspect it against massive filter lists containing hundreds of thousands of rules, and decide whether to block it before the page loaded.

MV3 replaces webRequest with the Declarative Net Request (DNR) API. Under this new system, an extension pre-submits a limited set of static rules to the browser engine, and Chrome itself handles the blocking. Extensions can no longer process each request dynamically. The rule cap is set at roughly 30,000 static rules per extension plus a shared pool of up to 330,000, which sounds large but falls far short of what advanced blockers like uBlock Origin needed to operate at full capacity.

Google frames this as a security and performance upgrade. The old webRequest API gave extensions deep access that could be exploited by malicious software to intercept credentials, inject code, or silently track browsing activity. The security argument has genuine merit. But critics point out that Google, a company that generates the vast majority of its revenue from advertising, stands to benefit directly when the most effective ad blockers are crippled.

What Happened to uBlock Origin?

uBlock Origin was the gold standard of ad blocking. Its developer, Raymond Hill, built it specifically to leverage the full power of webRequest for real-time, dynamic content filtering. When Google announced the MV3 transition, Hill made it clear that a full-featured MV3 port was technically impossible due to the API restrictions.

The full uBlock Origin extension was removed from the Chrome Web Store in late 2024. Chrome permanently disabled all remaining MV2 extensions for general users in July 2025 with Chrome 139. Enterprise users, who had received an exemption via the ExtensionManifestV2Availability policy, also lost MV2 support at that point. By March 2025, Chrome was already actively deactivating extensions like uBlock Origin for a growing number of users.

With Chrome 150, expected to hit stable around late June 2026, even the developer-facing flag that allowed re-enabling MV2 extensions is being stripped from the source code. Chrome 151 is expected to finalize the complete removal of all backward compatibility code. There is no going back.

Is uBlock Origin Lite a Real Replacement?

Hill created uBlock Origin Lite (uBOL) as a separate, MV3-compliant extension. It works, but it is fundamentally limited. Independent testing suggests the original uBlock Origin achieved a 90 to 95 percent ad-blocking rate, while uBlock Origin Lite drops to roughly 60 to 70 percent. The Lite version cannot dynamically update filters, cannot perform advanced cosmetic filtering at scale, and has strict limits on the number of rules it can apply.

For casual users who just want basic banner ads removed, uBOL is a functional option. For anyone who relied on uBlock Origin’s advanced mode to block YouTube ads, circumvent anti-adblock scripts, or filter out sophisticated trackers, the Lite version is a clear downgrade. By late July 2025, uBOL had surpassed 8 million users on the Chrome Web Store, showing strong migration from the original extension.

Which Browsers Still Support Full Ad Blocking?

The Manifest V3 restriction is largely a Chrome-specific problem. Several alternative browsers have actively chosen to maintain support for MV2 or implement their own solutions:

• Firefox: Mozilla has explicitly committed to supporting both MV2 and MV3 extensions. Firefox retains the full webRequest API, making it the only major browser where the original uBlock Origin works at full power. Hill himself recommends Firefox as the best platform for his extension. Firefox holds around 6.4 percent desktop market share in 2026, supported by a loyal privacy-conscious user base.
• Brave: With over 100 million monthly active users in 2026, Brave has become the leading privacy-focused browser. Its built-in Brave Shields ad blocker operates at the browser’s core code level using C++ and Rust, completely independent of extension APIs. Manifest V3 has zero impact on Brave’s native blocking capability.
• Vivaldi: Another Chromium-based browser that has stated its intention to maintain MV2 extension support for as long as technically feasible.
• Microsoft Edge: Currently supports the full uBlock Origin extension, but as a Chromium-based browser, it may eventually follow Chrome’s deprecation path.

How Does This Affect Gamers Specifically?

If you spend time on game wikis, strategy guides, build planners, patch note sites, or community forums, you know how aggressive the ad placement can be. Auto-playing video ads, interstitial pop-ups, and overlay banners are common on free gaming content sites. Without a strong ad blocker, page load times increase significantly and the browsing experience degrades.

YouTube is another major pain point. Gamers watching tutorials, esports streams, and gameplay content will notice more ads slipping through MV3-compliant blockers. The advanced anti-circumvention techniques that the original uBlock Origin used to counter YouTube’s ad-detection system are exactly the capabilities that Manifest V3 removed.

For gamers who value a clean browsing experience, switching to Firefox or Brave is the most practical solution. Both browsers deliver familiar performance with full ad-blocking power intact.

What About AdGuard and Other MV3-Compatible Options?

Not all ad blockers are dead on Chrome. Several major blockers have rebuilt their extensions for MV3 compliance:

• AdGuard: Released an MV3-compliant Chrome extension and continues to maintain a standalone desktop application that uses DNS-level filtering to bypass browser restrictions entirely. AdGuard co-founder Andrey Meshkov stated in June 2026 that most major blockers have already transitioned and the situation is manageable, if not ideal.
• Adblock Plus: Launched its MV3 version in May 2024, offering up to 100 filter lists with 50 active simultaneously. Its user base fluctuated during the transition, dropping from 44 million to around 37 million.
• Ghostery: Another MV3-compatible option focused on tracker blocking and privacy.

These MV3-compliant extensions work, but they all operate within the same hard rule limits that Google imposed. None of them can match the filtering precision of a full MV2-based blocker.

The Chrome 150 Timeline: What Happens When?

Is Switching Browsers Difficult?

Moving from Chrome to Brave or Vivaldi is nearly painless. Both use the Chromium engine, so website compatibility, developer tools, and the general browsing feel are virtually identical. You can import bookmarks, saved passwords, and extensions in a few clicks.

Switching to Firefox involves adapting to the Gecko engine, which means a slightly different rendering experience. However, modern Firefox is fast, fully standards-compliant, and offers the strongest ad-blocking ecosystem available. For gamers, the performance difference is negligible in everyday browsing.

Questions Worth Answering

Can I still block any ads on Chrome?
Yes. MV3-compliant extensions like uBlock Origin Lite, AdGuard MV3, and Adblock Plus MV3 still work on Chrome. They block common ads and trackers, but their filtering precision and dynamic capabilities are significantly reduced compared to MV2 extensions.

Does Brave need an ad-blocker extension?
No. Brave Shields is built directly into the browser at the code level. It blocks ads, trackers, and third-party cookies by default without requiring any extension installation. Since it does not rely on extension APIs, Manifest V3 restrictions do not affect it.

Will Firefox ever drop MV2 support?
Mozilla has publicly stated it has no plans to abandon MV2 extensions. Firefox supports the webRequest API in both MV2 and MV3, ensuring that full-power ad blockers like uBlock Origin continue working indefinitely.

Do VPNs replace ad blockers?
Standard VPNs do not block ads. However, services like NordVPN Threat Protection and Surfshark CleanWeb include DNS-level ad and tracker blocking that works independently of browser extensions and is unaffected by MV3.

Does this affect mobile browsers too?
Yes. Chrome on Android is subject to the same MV3 restrictions. Firefox for Android and Brave for Android both offer strong ad-blocking alternatives on mobile.

The Bottom Line

The era of full-power, unrestricted ad blocking on Google Chrome is over. Manifest V3 has permanently reduced what browser extensions can do within Chrome’s ecosystem. Google’s security justification holds some technical weight, but the commercial benefit of weakening ad blockers for the world’s largest advertising company is impossible to ignore.

The good news: the choice is yours. Firefox and Brave both offer complete ad-blocking capability with no compromise. Chromium-based alternatives like Vivaldi provide a familiar experience without Google’s restrictions. If you choose to stay on Chrome, MV3-compliant extensions offer basic protection, but expect more ads to slip through than before. For gamers who value a clean, fast browsing experience, the smartest move right now is switching to a browser that respects your preferences.

A PlayStation Network support-side vulnerability lets attackers take over accounts by providing a username and old transaction ID to customer service, completely bypassing 2FA and passkeys. Here is what happened and how to protect yourself.

A reported vulnerability in PlayStation Network’s customer support verification process allows attackers to take over accounts even when two-factor authentication (2FA) and passkeys are enabled. As of May 2026, the flaw appears to remain exploitable despite being first publicly documented in December 2025. Sony Interactive Entertainment’s own data shows PlayStation Network had 125 million monthly active users as of March 30, 2026, meaning the potential exposure is massive.

The issue was brought to global attention by French journalist Nicolas Lellouche of Numerama, whose PSN account was compromised twice in a single day in December 2025. On May 13, 2026, Lellouche announced his account had been stolen again, demonstrating that months of awareness have not led to a definitive fix.

How the Attack Works

The exploit targets Sony’s customer support process rather than the login system itself. An attacker calls PlayStation support, provides the victim’s PSN username and an old transaction number from a past PlayStation Store purchase, and requests an account recovery. If the support agent accepts these details as proof of ownership, they can change the account’s registered email address, effectively removing all existing 2FA and passkey protections.

According to Lellouche’s reporting and follow-up coverage from outlets like Tech4Gamers and DuckIT Tech News, the attacker who originally compromised his account admitted to obtaining the transaction number from an old screenshot Lellouche had posted publicly. The hacker explained that PlayStation support agents asked only for a username and a transaction number as verification, making the process straightforward to abuse.

ComicBook.com’s coverage added that partial payment card details and console serial numbers can also serve as accepted verification by Sony support in some cases, further expanding the potential attack surface.

Why 2FA and Passkeys Cannot Stop This

This is a critical distinction. Passkeys and two-factor authentication protect the login layer: they prevent unauthorized access when someone tries to sign in with stolen credentials. The reported PSN vulnerability operates at a different level entirely. It exploits the account recovery and support verification workflow, where a human agent can be convinced to override those stronger protections using older account-related details.

As DuckIT Tech News explained, this means users can follow every security recommendation Sony publicly provides and still remain exposed if the support-side process is weak enough. The official PlayStation support pages continue to recommend passkeys, email recovery, and password resets, but no public documentation describes a revised verification system for cases where a support agent is asked to transfer account control.

The Lellouche Timeline: Three Compromises, No Permanent Fix

In December 2025, Nicolas Lellouche’s PSN account was taken over twice within hours. After the first takeover, he contacted PlayStation support and recovered his account by providing his PSN username and a transaction number. Within an hour, the same attacker used the exact same type of information to reclaim the account through support.

Lellouche then made direct contact with the attacker, who confirmed the method. The attacker had found a transaction number in a screenshot Lellouche had posted online years earlier. Sony subsequently marked Lellouche’s account as “high risk” and reportedly instructed customer service agents not to process changes on it.

On May 13, 2026, Lellouche reported his account was compromised yet again. This time, the attack may have come from a different individual, as the account changes did not match the previous incident’s pattern. Lellouche argued that as long as the underlying flaw persists, the method will continue to be used repeatedly by anyone who learns it.

What Makes Transaction IDs Dangerous?

Every PlayStation Store purchase, including free-to-play game downloads, generates a unique transaction ID. This identifier was designed for payment tracking and receipt verification. The security risk emerges when this number is accepted as an identity verification tool during account recovery.

Attackers can obtain transaction IDs from screenshots shared on social media, old purchase receipts posted in forums, images on resale platforms, or even data from older breaches. According to Lellouche’s reporting, groups of individuals are actively collecting such screenshots specifically to take over accounts, making sure original owners cannot recover them.

Sony’s Response (or Lack Thereof)

As of mid-May 2026, Sony has not issued a public technical explanation, transparent acknowledgment, or confirmed protocol change addressing this specific support-side vulnerability. PlayStation’s official support pages still recommend standard security measures like passkeys and 2FA without mentioning the reported support verification weakness.

The only known internal action was the “high risk” marker placed on Lellouche’s account after the December 2025 incident, which ultimately failed to prevent the May 2026 compromise. This suggests that even account-specific protective measures are insufficient without a fundamental overhaul of the verification protocol.

The Broader Digital Ownership Context

This vulnerability arrives at a particularly sensitive moment for PlayStation users. In late April 2026, reports surfaced that Sony had quietly implemented a 30-day online DRM check-in requirement for digital games, meaning players who do not connect their consoles to the internet within 30 days could temporarily lose access to purchased titles.

Combined with the account takeover flaw, this has intensified concerns about the security and permanence of digital game libraries. Accounts containing hundreds or thousands of euros worth of games, save data, trophies, and PlayStation Plus entitlements represent significant financial and personal value that can vanish in minutes through this exploit.

How to Protect Your PSN Account Right Now

Until Sony addresses the support-side verification process, users should take these practical steps to reduce their risk:

• Never share transaction details publicly: Do not post PlayStation Store purchase screenshots, receipts, or order confirmations on social media, forums, or resale sites. Review old posts and remove any that contain visible transaction IDs.
• Secure your linked email account: Enable 2FA on the email address connected to your PSN account. Use a unique, strong password for it. If your email is compromised, the attacker gains an additional vector.
• Keep passkeys and 2FA active: While these measures cannot prevent a support-side override, they still protect the login layer against conventional attacks.
• Use a password manager: Tools like Bitwarden or 1Password help generate and store unique credentials for every account, preventing credential stuffing attacks.
• Remove stored payment methods: Consider removing credit or debit cards from your PSN account and using prepaid PlayStation Store cards instead.
• Guard your console serial number: This information can also reportedly be used as identity verification by support agents.
• Monitor account activity: Regularly check for unfamiliar transactions, email change notifications, or settings modifications. Act immediately if anything looks suspicious.

Understanding the Social Engineering Angle

This type of attack falls under the cybersecurity category of social engineering: manipulating people rather than exploiting technical systems. The attacker does not need to crack encryption or intercept data packets. They simply need to convince a human support agent that they are the account’s rightful owner.

According to Kaspersky’s security guidance, the foundational principle against social engineering is “never trust, always verify.” For users, this means treating even seemingly harmless account identifiers as sensitive data. For service providers like Sony, it means designing verification processes that cannot be satisfied by information that may have been publicly or semi-publicly available.

The PSN case demonstrates that the weakest link in digital security is often not the technology but the human process surrounding it. Until Sony strengthens its support verification workflow, user vigilance remains the primary defence.

What Players Usually Ask About This Issue

Can my account really be stolen even with 2FA and passkeys enabled?
Based on multiple reports, yes. The attack does not target the login screen. It targets the customer support process, where an agent can override security protections when presented with a username and a transaction number.

Am I at risk if I have never made a purchase?
Even free-to-play downloads and free game claims generate a transaction ID. If you have completed any transaction through the PlayStation Store, you could potentially be targeted.

What should I do if my account is compromised?
Immediately reset your password from a secure device. Sign out of all devices through account management. Re-enable 2FA. Review your purchase history for unauthorized transactions. Contact PlayStation Support directly and report the incident.

Has Sony acknowledged this vulnerability?
As of May 2026, Sony has not released a public statement detailing changes to its support verification process in response to this specific issue. The company’s official support pages continue to recommend standard security measures without referencing the reported support-side weakness.

Is there anything PlayStation can do to fix this permanently?
The most effective fix would be to overhaul the identity verification process used by customer support agents, requiring stronger proof of ownership that cannot be obtained from public screenshots or old receipts. Until such changes are confirmed, users should treat all account-related information as confidential.

Account security is a foundational concern for anyone investing in digital gaming. For more insights on safe account practices and verified trading processes, the GamerMarkt guide on secure account transactions covers relevant security principles that apply across platforms.

As of April 27, 2026, every single-player Denuvo-protected PC game has been cracked or bypassed. The hypervisor bypass and voices38’s traditional cracks have rendered the DRM effectively useless, while 2K Games and Irdeto fight back with mandatory 14-day online check-ins.

Every single-player PC game protected by Denuvo has now been cracked or bypassed. As of April 27, 2026, the community-maintained tracking list hit zero uncracked titles for the first time in Denuvo’s 12-year history, according to Tom’s Hardware. The collapse was driven by two parallel breakthroughs: a hypervisor-based bypass (HVB) developed by the MKDev collective and DenuvOwO, and traditional reverse-engineering cracks by the prolific cracker voices38. In response, 2K Games and Irdeto have introduced mandatory 14-day online check-ins, a countermeasure that has already sparked controversy among legitimate players.

What Is Denuvo and Why Does It Matter?

Denuvo Anti-Tamper is a DRM protection system developed by Irdeto. First deployed in 2014 on FIFA 15, it quickly became the gold standard for PC game copy protection. Unlike simple license checks, Denuvo wraps portions of a game’s executable code inside a custom virtual machine, encrypts critical constants using hardware-specific tokens, and continuously validates these throughout gameplay. For years, this made zero-day piracy nearly impossible, buying publishers weeks or months of protection during the critical launch sales window.

The technology has always been controversial. A January 2026 analysis by Tech4Gamers demonstrated that Denuvo’s virtual machine layer invalidates CPU cache and undoes compiler optimizations through JIT recompilation, junk jumps, and code obfuscation. The practical result: slower load times, micro-stuttering, and lower FPS, particularly on mid-range and budget CPUs. Independent testing across titles like Star Wars Battlefront II, Deathloop, and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla has shown measurable performance improvements after Denuvo removal.

How the Hypervisor Bypass Works

In late 2025, the MKDev collective released a proof-of-concept hypervisor-based bypass for Persona 5 Royal. The technique was then refined by DenuvOwO and applied at scale by crackers including Kirigiri, who bypassed Resident Evil: Requiem within one hour of its February 2026 launch, defeating not just Denuvo but also Steam DRM, Capcom Anti-Tamper, VMProtect, and SteamStub simultaneously.

The method works by installing a custom hypervisor that sits beneath the Windows operating system at Ring -1, a privilege level below the kernel itself. At this depth, the hypervisor intercepts Denuvo’s CPU-level queries (CPUID, XGETBV, and syscall checks) and feeds back spoofed hardware identification data. Denuvo believes the system is the original licensed machine, and the game runs normally. Crucially, this is not a crack in the traditional sense: Denuvo code remains intact inside the game files, but it has been tricked into inaction.

TweakTown reported that this approach enabled day-zero pirated releases of major titles including Crimson Desert, Life is Strange: Reunion, and the long-protected Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The speed advantage is enormous: what once required months of reverse engineering can now be achieved in hours.

Voices38: The Traditional Cracker Changing the Game

Running parallel to the hypervisor wave, voices38 has been dismantling Denuvo the old-fashioned way. By debugging game executables and manually identifying every Denuvo validation trigger embedded in the code, voices38 removes or neutralises each check entirely. The result is a clean executable that runs without any external bypass tool or system modification.

In March 2026, voices38 fully cracked Doom: The Dark Ages, the first 2025-released Denuvo title to be completely stripped. In April, Resident Evil: Requiem became the first 2026 release to receive a full traditional crack, confirmed by OpenCritic. Black Myth: Wukong followed shortly after. Unlike the hypervisor method, voices38’s cracks operate entirely at the normal user level (Ring 3), require no system security changes, and carry minimal security risk.

Hypervisor Bypass vs Traditional Crack: Security Risks Compared

The hypervisor bypass is fast but dangerous. PCWorld’s April 2026 report detailed the security requirements: users must disable Secure Boot, turn off Driver Signature Enforcement, disable PatchGuard, and weaken or turn off Windows Defender. Operating at Ring -1, the bypass has direct hardware access and can persist below the operating system, potentially surviving reboots and evading traditional antivirus detection. Even members of the piracy community have expressed concern, and some crack developers refuse to use the technique.

Voices38’s traditional cracks carry far less risk. The modified executable runs as a standard application within Windows, and any malicious payload would be detectable by conventional antivirus software. The trade-off is time: traditional cracks require significantly more skill and effort per title, while the hypervisor approach can be adapted rapidly across many games.

April 27, 2026: The List Hits Zero

The milestone was tracked on a large Reddit thread that monitors Denuvo-protected games. On April 27, 2026, every non-VR single-player title on the list was marked as cracked or bypassed. Among the final titles to fall were Dragon’s Dogma 2, Marvel’s Midnight Suns, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Far Cry 5, and multiple EA Sports releases including Madden NFL 24, Madden NFL 25, EA Sports FC 24, and EA Sports FC 25. FitGirl, the well-known repacker, declared Denuvo “completely non-functional” as a protection layer.

As Cybernews noted, only VR titles remained outside the scope of the bypass, since the hypervisor technique has not been adapted for VR-specific DRM implementations.

2K Games Fights Back: Mandatory 14-Day Online Check-Ins

The first major publisher response came from 2K Games. As reported by Kotaku and VGC on April 28, 2026, titles including NBA 2K25, NBA 2K26, and Marvel’s Midnight Suns now require a “fixed offline authorization token” that expires every 14 days. When the token expires, the game refuses to launch until the player connects to the internet and pings Denuvo’s servers for a fresh token.

Tom’s Hardware confirmed that this approach is effective against the hypervisor bypass because it requires a genuine call-and-response with Denuvo’s authentication servers, something the bypass cannot spoof. However, the measure carries significant collateral damage. Players on the Steam Deck, in areas with unreliable internet, or anyone who simply has not launched a game in two weeks will be locked out until they reconnect. Pirat Nation and hackers have also noted that the 14-day requirement does not appear to be disclosed on the affected games’ Steam Store pages or EULAs.

Irdeto’s Official Response and Future Countermeasures

Irdeto’s head of communications, Daniel Butschek, confirmed to TorrentFreak that updated security measures are in development. “We’re already working on updated security versions for games impacted by hypervisor bypasses. For players, performance will not be compromised by these strengthened security measures,” he stated. Irdeto also confirmed it will not push DRM down to Ring -1 or kernel territory.

Possible detection strategies include monitoring for third-party hypervisors via CPUID checks, measuring CPU latency anomalies that indicate virtualisation, and requiring more frequent license ticket refreshes. FitGirl has speculated that daily license checks could follow, though this would heavily inconvenience legitimate buyers and may still be circumvented.

The fundamental challenge for Denuvo is architectural: it operates at Ring 3 (user-space), while the hypervisor bypass runs at Ring -1. As Kirigiri noted publicly, Denuvo may never be able to properly detect a bypass running beneath it unless it fundamentally changes where its own code executes.

Does Denuvo Actually Hurt Performance?

The performance debate is no longer theoretical. Tech4Gamers’ analysis showed that Denuvo’s VM layer recompiles protected code through JIT, introducing junk instructions that break CPU branch prediction and invalidate instruction cache. Independent before-and-after benchmarks across multiple titles have documented the impact:

• Star Wars Battlefront II: Faster main menu and tutorial loading, significantly better average and minimum FPS after Denuvo removal.
• Deathloop: Measurably better average and minimum FPS with the crack versus the legitimate build.
• Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Improved performance on average FPS, minimum FPS, and frame times.
• Resident Evil Requiem: Community reports of better performance on the bypassed version versus the DRM-protected original, sparking outrage among paying customers.

Denuvo Software Solutions has historically denied performance impact claims, but the accumulating evidence from controlled testing environments tells a different story, particularly for systems with four-core CPUs or budget hardware.

What Comes Next for DRM Technology?

The collapse of Denuvo’s protection raises serious questions about the future of PC game DRM. Several scenarios are being discussed across the industry:

• Kernel-level DRM: Similar to anti-cheat systems like Vanguard or EasyAntiCheat, future DRM could operate at Ring 0 or deeper. This would match the privilege level of hypervisor bypasses but would face massive player backlash and compatibility issues with Linux, Steam Deck, and privacy-conscious platforms.
• Frequent online validation: The 2K model of 14-day checks could become standard, effectively turning single-player games into always-online products.
• Cloud-based execution: Running critical game logic server-side would make local cracking irrelevant, but at the cost of latency, infrastructure, and offline play.
• Publisher retreat: Some studios may conclude that DRM’s costs now outweigh its benefits and follow the path of CD Projekt Red, which has never used Denuvo on its titles.

Industry data suggests DRM primarily protects revenue during the first 6 to 12 weeks of a game’s life. If protection can be defeated within hours of launch, the business case for expensive DRM licensing weakens considerably. Many publishers already quietly remove Denuvo months after release to save on licensing fees and earn goodwill from the performance-conscious PC community.

What This Means for PC Gamers

For legitimate buyers, the immediate concern is that publisher countermeasures could make their experience worse. Mandatory online check-ins, potential kernel-level DRM in future titles, and increasingly aggressive authentication all punish paying customers while pirates play unencumbered. The irony that cracked versions of Denuvo games often run better than their legitimate counterparts has not been lost on the community.

The cat-and-mouse game between DRM developers and crackers has lasted over a decade. The events of early 2026 represent the most decisive swing toward the cracking community in Denuvo’s entire history. Whether Irdeto can develop an effective countermeasure or whether the industry will pivot to entirely new protection strategies remains to be seen. For now, the wall that once seemed unbreakable has fallen.

Common Questions About the Denuvo Situation

Is the hypervisor bypass safe to use?

No. It requires disabling Secure Boot, Driver Signature Enforcement, and other core Windows security features. This exposes the system to kernel-level malware and persistent threats that can survive reboots. Traditional cracks from voices38 are significantly safer as they operate at the normal user level.

Will the 14-day online check stop piracy?

It blocks the hypervisor bypass for affected titles because real server communication is required. However, it does not prevent traditional cracks that fully remove Denuvo from the executable. It also creates inconvenience for legitimate players with limited internet access.

Does removing Denuvo actually improve game performance?

Yes, in documented cases. Independent benchmarks across multiple titles show measurable improvements in FPS, frame times, and loading speeds after Denuvo removal, particularly on mid-range hardware. The effect is most pronounced in games that combine Denuvo with additional protection like VMProtect.

Could DRM move to the kernel level like anti-cheat software?

It is technically possible, but highly controversial. Kernel-level anti-cheats are already divisive, with companies like Valve refusing to implement them. Kernel-level DRM for single-player games would face intense backlash and could break compatibility with Linux, Steam Deck, and other platforms.

High ping in CS2 costs rounds. This guide covers every practical fix from console commands and in-game settings to DNS resets, QoS configuration, and network driver optimisation so you can play with minimal latency.

Counter-Strike 2 averaged roughly 977,000 concurrent players per month in early 2026, with peak counts regularly surpassing 1.6 million according to SteamCharts data. In a game where millisecond-level reactions decide rounds, anything above 50 ms of ping puts you at a measurable disadvantage. Pros typically play under 10 ms, and casual competitive players should aim for 20-50 ms. This guide walks through every practical method to lower your CS2 ping, from hardware changes to console commands and Windows-level network resets.

Why Your CS2 Ping Is High

Ping measures the round-trip time for data packets between your PC and the game server. High ping in CS2 is usually caused by Wi-Fi interference, background applications consuming bandwidth, physical distance from servers, outdated network drivers, or poor ISP routing. CS2 is more sensitive to connection instability than most shooters because of its high tick rate and precise hit registration system.

To diagnose your problem, open the developer console in CS2 by pressing the tilde key (~) and type cq_netgraph_problem_show_auto 1. This displays ping, packet loss (loss), and choke values on screen whenever the game detects issues. High loss points to a connection problem on your end, while high choke usually signals server-side congestion.

Switch to Wired Ethernet

Wi-Fi creates inconsistent latency due to signal interference from walls, appliances, and other wireless devices on your network. Switching to an Ethernet cable typically reduces ping by 20-50 ms and virtually eliminates the jitter that causes rubber-banding in CS2.

If running a cable directly to your router is impractical, powerline adapters offer a solid alternative by sending Ethernet signal through your home’s electrical wiring. While not as fast as a direct cable, powerline is still far more stable than Wi-Fi for competitive play. If wireless is your only option, connect on the 5 GHz band instead of 2.4 GHz for lower congestion, though range is shorter. For maximum cable quality, use Cat5e or Cat6 to support 1 Gbps with minimal data loss.

Close Background Bandwidth Hogs

Applications running in the background compete with CS2 for bandwidth and can spike your ping by 50-100 ms during active data transfers. Before launching CS2, open Task Manager with Ctrl + Shift + Esc and check the Network column. Close anything consuming significant bandwidth: browser tabs with streaming video, cloud sync services like Google Drive or OneDrive, torrent clients, and auto-updating applications.

Discord voice chat is generally fine since it uses minimal bandwidth. Windows updates, however, are notorious for downloading large files in the background. Pause them by going to Settings > Windows Update > Pause updates. Similarly, open Steam’s Downloads section and pause any active game updates before queueing for competitive matches.

Set Your Maximum Matchmaking Ping

CS2’s default matchmaking settings can place you on servers that are technically playable but not optimal. Manually restricting your ping limit ensures you only connect to nearby servers. Open the console and enter mm_dedicated_search_maxping 50 to cap matchmaking at 50 ms. This may slightly increase queue times, but gameplay quality improves substantially.

If you live in a region with fewer players, increase this to 75 or even 100, but avoid going higher. Anything above 100 ms creates delays you will feel in clutch moments. You can also set this value through the in-game settings menu under “Max Acceptable Matchmaking Ping.”

If you use a VPN or proxy, disable it before playing. These services route your traffic through additional servers, adding latency that directly increases your in-game ping.

Optimise CS2 Console Commands for Network Performance

Console commands fine-tune how CS2 handles network data. They will not fix a fundamentally bad connection, but they can minimise the impact of minor latency issues. Enable the developer console in Game Settings, then open it with the tilde key and enter the following:

• rate 786432: Sets the maximum data transfer rate to the highest standard value. On very stable connections, 1024000 also works.
• cl_updaterate 128: Controls how many updates per second the client receives from the server.
• cl_cmdrate 128: Determines how many commands per second the client sends to the server.
• cl_interp 0: Reduces interpolation for the most responsive hit registration. Best for stable, low-ping connections.
• cl_interp_ratio 1: Tightly synchronises game visuals with server ticks. Use 2 if your connection has frequent packet loss.

If your connection is unstable, setting cl_interp to 0 may cause stuttering. In that case, try 0.015625 for moderate stability or 0.03125 for higher buffering at the cost of slightly more perceived delay. Test these values in casual matches before using them in competitive.

To apply these automatically every time you launch CS2, save them in an autoexec.cfg file in your CS2 config folder and add +exec autoexec.cfg to your Steam launch options.

Flush DNS and Reset Your Network Stack

Network configurations accumulate routing errors over time, gradually increasing ping without any obvious cause. Flushing DNS and resetting network settings forces your system to establish fresh connections with updated routing information.

Open Command Prompt as administrator and enter the following commands in order:

1. ipconfig /flushdns
2. ipconfig /release
3. ipconfig /renew
4. netsh winsock reset
5. netsh int ip reset

Restart your PC after running these. For additional improvement, switch to faster DNS servers. Google DNS (8.8.8.8 and 8.8.4.4) or Cloudflare DNS (1.1.1.1 and 1.0.0.1) often provide quicker resolution times than your ISP’s default DNS. To change DNS, go to Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings, right-click your active connection, select Properties, choose Internet Protocol Version 4, and enter your preferred DNS addresses.

Configure Quality of Service on Your Router

If multiple people share your network, gaming packets constantly fight streaming videos and file downloads for bandwidth. Quality of Service (QoS) prioritises gaming traffic, giving CS2 data first-class treatment even during peak network usage.

Access your router’s admin panel by entering 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1 in your browser. Navigate to Advanced Settings or Traffic Management, find QoS or Traffic Prioritisation options, and add CS2 or your PC to the high-priority list. CS2 primarily uses UDP ports 27000-27050, so you can prioritise by port or by device IP address. Testing shows that without QoS, latency can fluctuate between 40-120 ms with 5-8% packet loss during peak usage, while proper QoS stabilises it at 20-40 ms with under 1% loss.

Also consider simply restarting your router before a gaming session. A quick reboot clears the router’s cache and re-establishes clean connections, which alone can resolve temporary routing issues.

Update Network Drivers and Disable Power Saving

Outdated network card drivers create inefficiencies that can add 10-20 ms of unnecessary latency. Open Device Manager by pressing Win + X and selecting it from the menu, expand Network Adapters, right-click your adapter, and choose “Update driver.” Select “Search automatically for updated driver software.”

Network adapters often have power-saving features that reduce performance during what Windows considers idle moments, causing random ping spikes during gameplay. In Device Manager, double-click your adapter, go to the Advanced tab, and disable Energy Efficient Ethernet. Under the Power Management tab, uncheck “Allow the computer to turn off this device to save power.” These small tweaks prevent your adapter from throttling during matches.

Adjust In-Game Bandwidth and Buffering Settings

In CS2’s Game settings, set “Max Acceptable Game Traffic Bandwidth” to Unrestricted. Lower values cap how much data the game can receive, which can cause packet loss on fast connections. However, if your internet speed is genuinely slow (below 5 Mbps), try a lower setting to avoid overwhelming your connection.

The “Buffering to smooth over packet loss” option can help if you experience rubber-banding. Setting it to 1 Packet introduces a tiny amount of buffering that smooths minor packet loss without noticeably increasing ping. If the game feels worse, revert to “None.”

NVIDIA GPU users should enable NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency in CS2’s video settings. Reflex reduces the render queue to minimise system latency, making your inputs feel more responsive even if your network ping stays the same.

Verify Game Files and Check for Malware

Corrupted or missing game files can cause unexpected performance issues including network instability. In your Steam library, right-click CS2, select Properties > Local Files > Verify integrity of game files. Steam will automatically download any missing or damaged files.

Malware running on your system can silently consume network resources. Run a full system scan with your antivirus software. Some antivirus programs also interfere with game connections by scanning network traffic in real time. If you suspect this, temporarily disable your antivirus before launching CS2 or add CS2 as a trusted application in your firewall settings.

When the Problem Is Not on Your End

Before spending hours troubleshooting, confirm the issue is actually yours. Check Downdetector for CS2 to see if other players are reporting widespread problems. Browse the CS2 subreddit or Steam Community for reports from your region. If hundreds of players are experiencing the same thing, it is a server-side issue that no local fix can solve.

If your ping is consistently high after trying everything, the problem likely lies with your ISP’s routing to Valve’s data centres. Document the issue by running speed tests at different times of day, recording download speed, upload speed, and ping, then contact your ISP with specific numbers rather than just saying “my internet is slow.”

Common Questions About CS2 Ping

What is a good ping for CS2?
Under 10 ms is ideal, 20-50 ms is the average for most players, 50-100 ms is playable but noticeable, and above 100 ms creates significant disadvantages in competitive play.

Should I set cl_interp to 0 or 0.015625?
Use cl_interp 0 if your connection is stable with low ping and no packet loss. Switch to 0.015625 or 0.03125 if you experience stuttering or inconsistent hit registration, as higher interpolation smooths out minor connection instability.

Does a VPN help reduce CS2 ping?
In most cases, a VPN increases latency because it routes traffic through additional servers. However, if your ISP has poor routing to CS2 servers or throttles gaming traffic, a low-latency gaming VPN connecting to a server near Valve’s data centre can sometimes improve the route.

Why is my ping only high in the evenings?
Evening hours bring peak network usage from other users on your ISP’s infrastructure. Switching to a wired connection, enabling QoS, or choosing a different server region can help. If the problem persists, contact your ISP about line congestion in your area.

Discord has introduced another improvement for gaming communities by starting to test a new system that allows users to purchase in game cosmetic items directly through the platform. According to recent information shared, the Discord game skin sales feature is currently available only to specific games and a limited group of users. This new move shows that Discord aims to become more than just a communication platform and take a more active role in the gaming ecosystem.

Although the feature is not yet available to a wide audience, it is expected to become active in more country servers and for additional games in the future. For this reason, the Discord in game purchase system is being closely followed by players.

Discord Game Skin Sales System

The Discord game skin sales system allows players to view and purchase in game cosmetic items directly through Discord. This structure is located within the official Discord server of the supported game, enabling users to access skins and cosmetic content without leaving the platform.

The Discord skin purchase process takes place entirely within Discord interface and purchased items are automatically assigned to the players game account. This system differs from traditional stores by placing social interaction at the center of the experience.

Supported Games And Regional Access

The Discord in game store feature is currently limited to a small number of games. In the first phase, the system is being tested with Marvel Rivals, indicating that Discord is following a controlled rollout strategy.

In addition, the feature is only active for Discord accounts in certain countries. It is not yet visible in many regions including Turkey. This limited access is interpreted as Discord measuring the system before expanding it to a broader user base.

How The Discord Skin Sales System Works

The Discord skin purchase process is designed to be simple and user friendly. When users enter the Discord server of a supported game, they can view cosmetic items listed directly within the server.

The purchase is completed on Discord without redirecting users to an external website. The system also includes social features such as wishlists and gifting options. This structure aims to strengthen community interaction within Discord.

The Future Of Discord Skin Sales

Discord usually releases new features gradually. For this reason, the Discord game skin sales system is likely to become available for more games and country servers in the future.

An increase in game variety and a reduction in regional limitations could strengthen the platforms influence within the gaming economy. The current testing phase is seen as a step to evaluate Discord potential in this area.

Digital Products Within Discord Ecosystem

The services offered by Discord in the digital products space are not limited to skin sales. Subscription based services provided by the platform are also highly popular among users.

These steps taken by Discord in both subscriptions and in game purchases increase the possibility of the platform becoming a more central player in the gaming world in the future.

Discord has become one of the most popular platforms for millions of gamers and communities around the world. With features such as voice chat high quality video calls and community management Discord Nitro subscription takes your experience to the next level. The Nitro e pin code you purchase from GamerMarkt can be activated in just a few simple steps.

• Nitro subscriptions are offered with different duration options
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This way you can get the Discord Nitro package you need under the best conditions.

Steps to Activate Your Discord Nitro Code

If you try to activate the DC Nitro code directly through the Discord app you may get an error. To activate it correctly follow these steps:

• https://posa.mintroute.com/ go to this address
• Select Discord Service
• Select the package you purchased
• Enter your code and your email address
• Open the activation link sent to your email address
• Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the process

Benefits of Discord Nitro

Nitro subscription offers not only visual advantages but also more convenience

• Exclusive and animated emojis
• Higher file upload limits
• Server Boost option to support your server
• Better quality voice and video communication

These features make a big difference both in individual use and in managing communities.

In the gaming world communication is one of the most important elements of teamwork. Especially in online games players need a strong and uninterrupted voice communication infrastructure to act in coordination. This is where TeamSpeak 3 stands out as a voice communication program that has been trusted for many years. As GamerMarkt we provide players with a fast and secure way to buy TeamSpeak 3 e-pin. However the purchased codes cannot be activated directly through the application and must be activated using a specific method. In this article we explain step by step how to use the TeamSpeak 3 e-pin code.

Advantages of Buying TeamSpeak 3 E-Pin

Buying a TeamSpeak 3 e-pin through GamerMarkt offers users not only a secure shopping experience but also safe payment with a wide range of payment options. The GamerMarkt wallet can be topped up easily with multiple payment methods. The purchased codes are instantly delivered to the user and can be activated within minutes. This way players can start using their own TeamSpeak 3 servers without wasting time.

First Step to Activate the Code

After purchasing your TeamSpeak 3 e-pin code from GamerMarkt the activation process must be carried out on www.tskontrol.com. When you access the site you must first create a free membership. After completing the registration process log in to your account and proceed to the code loading step.

Code Loading and Package Selection

After logging in to your account click on the Code Load section in the menu. Enter your TeamSpeak 3 e-pin code here and complete the approval process within seconds. Once your code is valid the Products tab will become active. In this section you must select the features of the package you purchased. For example if you purchased a 10 slot server for 1 month you must select 30 days in the duration field and 10 users in the capacity field.

Accessing the Server and Control Panel

After activating your code and selecting your package the process is successfully completed. Then from the Services tab you can view your own TeamSpeak 3 server. Here you can access the control panel manage the settings and start using it instantly. All these steps are completed within just a few minutes.

Users who want to buy a TeamSpeak 3 e-pin code can easily select their desired package through our site and safely use the instantly delivered codes. Affordable prices and fast delivery server packages are waiting for you