SEGA responds to Sonic Mania PC version’s DRM backlash

After a slight delay, Sonic Mania has finally released on Steam, but all is not apparently well. The game's Steam user Review section is flooded with negative feedback, mostly surrounding the fact that the game comes with Denuvo DRM software. The thing that is important about that is that the User License Agreement never actually specifies that Denuvo will be installed on your computer, and with the rumors out there that the software can damage your SSD (though concrete proof has yet to surface), some gamers are not taking too kindly to it.

SEGA has responded to the backlash on the game's Steam page, saying that the game is "intended to be played offline" and have now included a blurb that says Denuvo comes with the game.

Like you, we've noticed an error in the Steam store not mentioning the DRM for Sonic Mania.

We're fixing that now.

Sonic Mania is intended to be played offline and we're investigating reports on that.

We're also investigating other issues like controller support, these are all PC specific things that Christian and the team have been working on these last few weeks

Please bear with us while we collate and investigate problems that are being brought to our attention.

While the game has a "Mostly Positive" reception, the highest rated user comments are Negative ones, all of which slam the game for the Denuvo and the inability to play offline. To be fair, many of them claim they will instantly change their feedback the moment that the DRM is removed.

A recent Facebook post regarding the Denuvo complaints suggests that the game's inability to play offline was due to a "bug" and not Denuvo, which is further backed up by a Tweet from the SEGA Europe account. Naturally, many of the fans aren't buying the explanation, and there's currently a NeoGAF thread full of players who claim they will refund the game if Denuvo isn't removed or have done so already. 

Sonic Mania is available now on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

Sources: [Steam, Gamespot, Facebook, Twitter, NeoGAF]