CrackWatch is an online community and website dedicated to tracking the status of video game cracks. It serves as a central hub for gamers looking to stay informed about the latest developments in game cracking, offering real-time updates and detailed information on the release status of cracked games.
Why CrackWatch closed?
Many speculate that the site's operators decided to shut it down due to increasing legal pressure and the growing difficulty of tracking effective countermeasures against modern game copy protection technologies.
What is CrackWatchPro?
CrackWatchPro is a CrackWatch-like website that tries to provide some information to you after CrackWatch is shut down. It is just getting started and I hope it can be helpful to you.
r/CrackWatch is a subreddit on Reddit dedicated to tracking and discussing the release of cracked versions of video games, primarily focusing on DRM (Digital Rights Management) protection methods, like Denuvo, used to prevent piracy. Users on this subreddit share information on whether a game’s DRM has been bypassed or cracked, often reporting on how quickly a game was cracked after its release and discussing the teams or individuals behind these cracks.
Here's an overview of the types of content and discussions commonly found on r/CrackWatch:
Crack Status Updates: Users post updates on whether or not a specific game has been cracked and by whom, often monitoring release windows and DRM status.
DRM Protection: Many discussions focus on DRM technologies like Denuvo, Arxan, or VMProtect. Users analyze how effective these protections are and track which games use them.
News and Releases: Members also share news related to game releases, upcoming crack possibilities, and delays attributed to DRM.
Piracy Discussions: There are discussions on the impact of DRM on game performance, pricing, and accessibility, often from both pro- and anti-DRM perspectives.
Exploring Alternatives for Accessing CrackWatch Game Lists
CrackWatch was a popular platform that kept track of the cracking status of video games. However, with the site's recent changes and discontinuations, many users are looking for alternative sources to find similar information. Here are some reliable alternatives to explore:
Reddit: The CrackWatch subreddit (r/CrackWatch) remains active and continues to provide updates on game cracks, release dates, and related news. Users can post inquiries and share information, making it a community-driven resource.
Piracy Forums: Various forums dedicated to game piracy still exist, where members share updates on cracked games, including their availability and working status. Websites like CS.RIN.RU are known for comprehensive discussions and updates on game cracks.
Discord Servers: Several Discord communities focus on game cracking updates. These servers often have dedicated channels for announcing newly cracked games and providing support to users.
Alternative Websites: New websites have emerged to fill the gap left by CrackWatch. Sites like "CrackWatchPro" and "GamesCrack" offer similar functionalities, tracking the cracking status of the latest video games.
Torrent Sites: While not as organized, torrent sites like The Pirate Bay and 1337x sometimes provide information on the cracking status of games in their comment sections and community forums.
Do Denuvo games still get cracked?
For the curious, there's a running tally of which Denuvo games have or haven't been cracked over on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/CrackWatch/ Currently not a single Denuvo game released during 2024 has been cracked, and more games released during 2023 remain uncracked than those that were.
CrackWatch operates by aggregating information from various sources, including cracking groups, forums, and social media. The platform verifies the authenticity of cracks before listing them, ensuring that users receive accurate and reliable information. The website is regularly updated to reflect the current status of game cracks, providing users with a comprehensive and up-to-date database.
Why Do Gamers Use CrackWatch?
CrackWatch has become a trusted resource for gamers due to its accuracy, reliability, and comprehensive coverage of the game cracking scene. Here are some reasons why gamers rely on CrackWatch:
Up-to-Date Information: CrackWatch offers the latest information on game cracks, ensuring that gamers are always in the loop.
Trusted Source: The platform's verification process builds trust among users, making it a reliable source for crack status updates.
Community Support: The engaged community on CrackWatch provides additional insights, support, and discussions, enhancing the overall user experience.
Crack Watch Weekly question
Q: When will [insert game name here] be cracked? A: STOP! r/CrackWatch members are not psychic. Games get cracked by completely ANONYMOUS SCENE GROUPS who don't disclose their progress or plans to the general public so NO ONE knows WHEN and IF a certain game will be cracked.
Q: What are all these NFO thingies? Where do I download it? A: NFOs are text files included with game releases that contain information about the releases. r/CrackWatch only informs which games have been cracked. To download look for the releases on CS.RIN or torrent websites. Useful websites can be found in The Beginners Guide or Pirated Games Mega Thread .
Q: WTF is Denuvo? A: Denuvo is a Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology used to protect games from being cracked. Games that have Denuvo are harder to crack and usually take much longer. See Pinned Post for a list of Denuvo games.
Q: An update is out, but it includes the base game as well! Can I only download the update without redownloading the entire game? A: Yes. CS.RIN is your friend.
CODEPUNKS = CODEX + STEAMPUNKS C000005 = EMPRESS
Each cracked game will have a (+)(–) or (x) sign. These signs only cover Single Player content. (+) means the latest update is cracked with all the DLC's (-) means all DLC's are cracked, but the latest patch is uncracked (x) means the latest DLC or multiple ones are uncracked
Protected by Origin DRM Protected by Uplay/Ubisoft Connect DRM Epic Store exclusive Steam version still uses Denuvo, GOG version available Cracked using a DRM free leak (Usually P2P) A - Not confirmed but based on the assumption that the game will use Denuvo because of the previous uses of Denuvo by the publisher. These games may not have Denuvo on their release.