GamePermainan yang dilindungi oleh Denuvo memerlukan aktivasi online.<ref>{{cite web|last=Frank|first=Allegra|date=12 October 2017|title=It took just 24 hours to crack Shadow of War's DRM|url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/10/12/16464616/middle-earth-shadow-of-war-drm-cracked-denuvo|website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190415124007/https://www.polygon.com/2017/10/12/16464616/middle-earth-shadow-of-war-drm-cracked-denuvo|archive-date=15 April 2019|access-date=18 May 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Menurut Empress, seorang crackerpembobol Denuvo yang terkenal, perangkat lunak ini memberikan token autentikasi unik untuk setiap salinan gamepermainan, tergantung pada faktor-faktor seperti perangkat keras pengguna. DRM ini terintegrasi dengan kode gamepermainan, yang membuatnya sangat sulit untuk dielakkandilalui.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.wired.com/story/empress-drm-cracking-denuvo-video-game-piracy/|title=The Woman Bulldozing Video Games' Toughest DRM|first=Cecilia|last=D'Anastasio|date=22 February 2021|magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]]|access-date=4 July 2022|archive-date=5 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705193705/https://www.wired.com/story/empress-drm-cracking-denuvo-video-game-piracy/|url-status=live}}</ref>
