The world of PC gaming was caught off guard when a simple human error at Neowiz Games led to one of the most unexpected events of 2024: the accidental removal of Denuvo DRM from the critically acclaimed soulslike Lies of P . The release group quickly capitalized on this mistake, producing a crack and subsequently a hotfix to resolve initial technical issues. This article explores the complete story behind the Lies of P Hotfix-RUNE , detailing what happened, why it was necessary, and the broader impact on the gaming community.
If you need to manually recover or migrate save data from an older RUNE directory to an updated version of the game, follow these sequential steps:
Let’s separate fact from fiction. By analyzing the .nfo file that accompanied the Lies of P Hotfix-RUNE scene release (uploaded to top sites in October 2023), the following technical details emerge:
Run the RUNE installer and point it to your main Lies of P installation directory. Lies of P Hotfix-RUNE
Within 30 days of launch, Neowiz had patched out Denuvo entirely from the official version. This act of goodwill significantly reduced the demand for cracked hotfixes. Why risk a buggy RUNE patch when you could buy the game on sale six months later and get a DRM-free, stable experience?
: In a highly praised quality-of-life update, the player's Ergo count now turns blue when you have enough to level up, eliminating the need to visit a merchant or do math to check your progress.
This error occurs if your Windows Defender or third-party antivirus quarantined the modified steam_api64.dll file during extraction or installation. The world of PC gaming was caught off
Many users report that applying the RUNE hotfix can cause existing save files to appear "lost".
: Updates generally include optimizations for high-fidelity upscaling (FSR 3.1, DLSS 3.1) and frame generation. Installation & Save Migration
The incident reignited the debate about whether Denuvo's performance impact justifies its use. Many legitimate customers felt punished by the DRM, while pirates enjoyed a potentially smoother experience. This situation arguably does more harm than good to game developers, as it incentivizes piracy rather than discouraging it. If you need to manually recover or migrate
Finally, the “RUNE hotfix” phenomenon serves a surprising cultural function: it preserves playable versions of games after official support ends. Should future Windows updates break Lies of P ’s DRM, the cracked hotfix may be the only way to run the game a decade from now. This archival role, however unintended, complicates the simple villain narrative often applied to cracking groups.
Correcting issues with quest items, achievement tracking, and enemy behavior, such as the achievement fixes and stability improvements seen in version 1.12.0.0. Key Updates and Features Addressed in Recent Hotfixes
This article is for educational and informational purposes only. To support the developers at Round8 Studio and Neowiz for their incredible work on Lies of P, we highly encourage purchasing the official version of the game on Steam, Xbox Game Pass, or the PlayStation Store. Share public link