Everytime I go to install Direct Action my antivirus goes off saying there is attached malware. What is going on here?

Most anti-virus solutions are alarmist schemes to trick you into buy larger suites. Your program found some memory access attempts in the installer that could be what malware would also be doing. Problem is this is quite normal and commonly done in regular computing so this is the equivalent of an overzealous neighbour calling the cops because he saw a black guy with his hands tucked into his pockets in the streets.

I would agree with you if this happened on other games as well. Instead it was backdoor malware that was being installed. It didn't happen with the other 2 games I got at the same time, nor had it happened any time previously.

Same issue here. Getting a warning that ActofWar.exe.download is the Trojan Horse TR/Patched.Ren.Gen2
Any idea what's going on here?

Your AV's heuristic scan probably detected pattern-based similarities between part of the installer and some known malware. AV software often takes the "better safe than sorry" approach, and flags (maybe even quarantines) the "suspicious" file. But I can assure you, it's a false positive in this case. :)

I expected that already but i went into search & destroy mode right away :-D

Thanks!