Xbox Players Get Early Access to Lego Batman While PC Gamers Express Frustration Over Unexpected Denuvo DRM

It looks like some gamers are diving into Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight well before its official release on May 22nd. A user on the r/legogaming subreddit shared that after preordering the game on Xbox, they managed to download the entire title. Once the download completed, they received a “ready to start” notification, clicked it, and found themselves in what seems to be the full game. Screenshots shared on the subreddit showcased the loading screen, start menu, and the opening level.

Walmart seems to be a key player in this early access mishap. Several gamers reported gaining entry to Lego Batman after purchasing a digital copy through the retailer’s site. However, this glitch appears to be limited to Xbox users. One player mentioned that at the end of their session, the game prompted them to update. Others confirmed that the game became unplayable ahead of launch following a pre-release patch.

Lego Batman isn’t the only title to experience an unexpected early release. Forza Horizon 6 was leaked on Steam days ahead of its scheduled launch. Players noted they could preload the game in anticipation of its May 15 early access for deluxe edition buyers. Unfortunately, the files were unencrypted, leading to the game appearing on piracy sites, which has cast a shadow over what is currently the second highest-selling game on Steam.

The excitement for the Lego-themed Dark Knight remains strong, and these early glimpses at the game are only fueling that enthusiasm. However, the addition of Denuvo, the often-criticized DRM software, to the PC version may have backfired for the developers at TT Games. While Denuvo is intended as an anti-piracy measure, it has a reputation for negatively impacting game performance.

Players have voiced concerns about early adopters facing the Denuvo “tax,” only for the software to be cracked shortly after launch or removed once initial sales begin to decline.