Pirates are already playing Forza Horizon 6 days before its launch

"As of Monday, footage from Forza Horizon 6 can be seen in multiple YouTube videos and livestreams. In March, an unencrypted copy of Death Stranding 2 was similarly uploaded to Steam days before the game's PC release, leading almost immediately to its availability on piracy sites."

"But Death Stranding 2 had already been available for over a year on the PlayStation 5 when that leak happened, somewhat blunting its overall impact. Back in 2018, the Denuvo copy protection for Hitman 2 was broken days before the game's official launch date, thanks to the quick work of crackers working on an early access version made available to preorder customers."

"The unprotected early upload could be a costly mistake for Microsoft, which is set to officially release Forza Horizon 6 on May 19 (or May 15 for those who pre-purchased the $120 Premium Edition). A 2024 study of Denuvo protection estimated that when a cracked version of a game is available within the first week of its release, it results an average 20 percent reduction in total revenue."

"While that study didn't examine the impact of pre-release cracks, the potential economic impact is likely even higher."

Footage from Forza Horizon 6 has appeared in YouTube videos and livestreams. An unencrypted copy of Death Stranding 2 was uploaded to Steam in March days before the PC release, and it quickly spread to piracy sites. Death Stranding 2 had already been available on PlayStation 5 for more than a year, which reduced the overall impact of the leak. In 2018, Denuvo protection for Hitman 2 was broken days before launch after crackers used an early access version provided to preorder customers. A 2024 study estimated that when cracked versions are available within the first week, total revenue drops by about 20 percent on average, suggesting pre-release cracks could be even more damaging.

Read at Ars Technica