2020's Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time received a soft relaunch on Friday that revolved around next-gen console patches, a downgraded port for Nintendo Switch, and a debut on Windows PC.
The latter case, debuting exclusively on Activision-Blizzard's Battle.net app, saw the publisher take an unusual step: requiring an online connection to launch the game.
By midday Saturday, one day after the game's Battle.net launch, cracking-group Empress claimed first dibs on stripping Crash 4's PC version of its online check-in system.
Their crack replaces one file in an otherwise vanilla install, and the group's release notes don't clarify what the crack does, other than describing the game's defeated DRM as "Battle.net + online only."
Game's console versions don't require online connection; all lack online content.
The latter case, debuting exclusively on Activision-Blizzard's Battle.net app, saw the publisher take an unusual step: requiring an online connection to launch the game.
By midday Saturday, one day after the game's Battle.net launch, cracking-group Empress claimed first dibs on stripping Crash 4's PC version of its online check-in system.
Their crack replaces one file in an otherwise vanilla install, and the group's release notes don't clarify what the crack does, other than describing the game's defeated DRM as "Battle.net + online only."
Game's console versions don't require online connection; all lack online content.