ma-ver-ick.509: What would a DRM be, if it could be removed by removing a file?
I would give CDPR the benefit of the doubt that's just a mistake.
Yeah, I'm pretty sure they ACCIDENTALLY implemented Launcher DRM into their game. Happens to me all the time. I'd try to write a script for a random program and suddenly it has DRM all over it. I once mistyped the commands in my script so bad, in the end it required GOG Galaxy to run :(
As other people in this thread stated, CDPR added DRM into Phantom Liberty with full intention. The fact that the DLC is missing when you delete the faulty DLLs is clear evidence for that. Not the base game is affected, only the DLC!
Yes, maybe they didn't intend to release it that way, but initially they knew what they were doing. They're not reluctant to use DRM, and they have shown it numerous times. I once read that they even had Denuvo on CP77 before release.
For all that I know, their next Witcher/Cyberpunk game might even go full DRM, it totally wouldn't surprise me. And I really hope I'm wrong.