>However, we are probably approaching an era where encryption / trusted computing is so good that future systems will never be cracked.
If AI lives up to its promise then in 5-10 years it should be possible (and affordable) to just point an AI at the screen and let it clone all the graphics, then have it implement the engine.
If the game doesn't run in 5-10 years because of some licensing, DRM, physical, or other SNAFU, then there will be no game for the bot to observe.