Modern games today have embedded software that protects the copyrights of digital media. This software is known as Digital Rights Management (DRM). Some games that have DRM software are incompatible with Alder Lake processors. According to Intel, some third-party DRM software is recognizing the E-cores as a separate system, rendering the game incapable of running at all. If you have experienced any games that are unable to run on your computer, this might be the reason. Continue reading this blog to learn how to mitigate the issue, while the vendor for the DRM works on a solution. First, you must check if the game you are unable to run on your device is on the list published by Intel.
List of Affected Games Unable to Run Due to DRM Issue in 12th Gen Intel Processors For Windows 11 For Windows 10 How to Check Processor Generation How to Fix DRM Software Incompatibility with Intel 12th Gen Processors Closing Words
List of Affected Games Unable to Run Due to DRM Issue in 12th Gen Intel Processors
For Windows 11
The following games are unable to run on a Windows 11 platform on devices with 12th Generation Intel processors. You can run Windows 7 games for Windows 11. Intel claims these games will be patched through Windows Update sometime mid-November 2021 and the issue will no longer remain (for these games only):
AnthemBravely Default 2Fishing Sim WorldFootball Manager 2019Football Manager Touch 2019Football Manager 2020Football Manager Touch 2020Legend of ManaMortal Kombat 11Tony Hawks Pro Skater 1 and 2Warhammer I
There are more games affected by the DRM incompatibility problem on Windows 11. Intel has not confirmed if and when the games mentioned below will receive a patch to fix the issue. If you are facing a similar problem in these games, we suggest you read the post to the very end to learn how to fix it:
Assassin’s Creed: ValhallaFar Cry PrimalFernbus SimulatorFor HonorLost in RandomMadden 22ManeaterNeed for Speed – Hot Pursuit RemasteredSea of SolitudeStar Wars Jedi Fallen OrderTourist Bus SimulatorManeater
For Windows 10
The following games have been affected for the Windows 10 OS on devices that have the Alder Lake processor:
All games for Windows 11 mentioned aboveAce Combat 7Assassins Creed OdysseyAssassins Creed OriginsCode VeineFootball 2021F1 2019Far Cry New DawnFIFA 19FIFA 20Football Manager 2021Football Manager Touch 2021Ghost Recon BreakpointGhost Recon WildlandsImmortals Fenyx RisingJust Cause 4Life is Strange 2Madden 21Monopoly PlusNeed For Speed HeatScott Pilgrim vs The WorldShadow of the Tomb RaiderShinobi StrikerSoulcalibur VIStarlinkTeam Sonic RacingTotal War Saga – Three KingdomsTrain Sim WorldTrain Sim World 2Wolfenstein Youngblood
Intel intends to keep the list updated. To view the latest list, check here. If your game is mentioned in the list of the respective OS, then you ought to confirm which generation of Intel’s processor do you have.
How to Check Processor Generation
Checking the processor’s generation is quite simple in Windows. Here is how: If the numbers are a total of 5 digits, it is usually because the generation of your processor is 10 or above, and the first 2 integers will define its generation. If the processor’s generation is 9 or less, the numbers are usually only 4 in total (8400 in the image above). Now that you have confirmed that you have a 12th Generation Intel processor and the name of the game is in the list above, you should now proceed to mitigate the issue manually, whilst both Microsoft and third-party DRM vendors work on a permanent fix.
How to Fix DRM Software Incompatibility with Intel 12th Gen Processors
Although the fix that has been suggested by Intel themselves is not a permanent solution, rather a workaround so that you can enjoy your games until the issue is fixed by the vendors. The mitigation process involves putting the e-cores, which were identified as a separate system by the DRM software, on standby. This can be done by enabling the Legacy Game Compatibility Mode from the system BIOS. Here is how: The game that you were unable to run previously due to DRM software and Intel Alder Lake incompatibility should now run smoothly. Remember to toggle the Scroll Lock button again when you are no longer playing the game to bring the E-cores back to their original state.
Closing Words
When applying this fix, we observed that some people referred to the Scroll Lock button as the new Turbo button. Upon further investigation, we discovered that there was a Turbo button on keyboards long before our generation was born. Turbo buttons were used to increase or decrease the computer’s processing speed. There is still debate on the internet regarding whether it was simply a gimmick or if it was effective. Even so, people now refer to the Scroll Lock button as the Turbo button, although toggling the Scroll Lock button does not directly affect the system’s performance.
