Ubisoft reportedly terminates draconian DRM scheme

[Pulsar_t]

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011- ... drm-report

Ubisoft appears to have stopped forcing PC gamers to maintain an internet connection while playing its games.

Gamers on Reddit (via PC Gamer) noticed the PC versions of Assassin's Creed 2 and Splinter Cell: Conviction were playable with web connections turned off – and took screenshots to prove it.

In the past a dropped internet connection would cause Ubisoft's PC games to pause. That no longer appears to be the case. However, as is standard practice, an internet connection is still required to validate the game install every time it is booted up.

Ubisoft's controversial DRM launched with The Settlers 7 last April, but was scrapped for the release of the PC version of real-time strategy game RUSE.

Last year Ubisoft's online verification servers suffered digital attacks, which prevented thousands of gamers from playing their games.

In January Ubisoft claimed the goal of its then new PC anti-piracy solution was to "provide added value" and "enrich the gaming experience".

"We know this choice is controversial but we feel is justified by the gameplay advantages offered by the system and because most PCs are already connected to the internet," said the company.

"This platform also offers protection against piracy, an important business element for Ubisoft and for the PC market in general as piracy has an important impact on this market.

"Any initiative that allows us to lower the impact of piracy on our PC games will also allow us to concentrate further effort on the creation and expansion of our intellectual properties for the PC - our goal is to deliver the best gaming experience to our customers."

[AmishSamurai]

About goddamn time.

[ZeroAX]

So did the shitty sales of these games finally get through to UbiSoft?

[J T]

Good for them. I hope they stop it altogether. It's become risky to buy an Ubisoft game in recent years, which is too bad because they do make some fun games.

[Ack]

Good for them. I hope they stop it altogether. It's become risky to buy an Ubisoft game in recent years, which is too bad because they do make some fun games.

At this point, if I buy a game of theirs, I generally don't buy it on the PC. Come to think of it, I generally don't buy their games anymore. As a consumer, it's the only real tactic I have to protest their DRM, but I'm ok with that.

[Betamax001]

That is cool I guess, but usually if I do get a computer game, it's usually on Steam. Those sales are dynamite! It depends though i suppose, but most of the games I want are older so there's the hassle of tracking down an old CD disc of whatever that probably costs just as much as it does on steam anyway, with little problems.

[BoringSupreez]

Maybe if they would go back to CD keys, I would buy Ubisoft games on PC. But there's no way I will buy any game that has DRM that extends past one check when I first install it. I own zero PC games that require me to be connected to the internet, because if I buy a game, I own it, and shouldn't have to accomodate to them checking my computer to see if I actually bought it. This is the first baby step away from their current awful DRM scheme, but they have a ways to go before I'll buy any recent Ubisoft games outside of consoles.

[jfrost]

That is cool I guess, but usually if I do get a computer game, it's usually on Steam.

Ubisoft games on Steam still have their shitty DRM on top of Steam's. Hopefully they'll get rid of it.

[AppleQueso]

That is cool I guess, but usually if I do get a computer game, it's usually on Steam.

Ubisoft games on Steam still have their shitty DRM on top of Steam's. Hopefully they'll get rid of it.

That's always completely insane to me. Steam has its own (apparently pretty effective and non-invasive) DRM, why the hell do companies still think they need SecuROM and whatnot on top of that?

[Erik_Twice]

That's always completely insane to me. Steam has its own (apparently pretty effective and non-invasive) DRM, why the hell do companies still think they need SecuROM and whatnot on top of that?

You give them too much credit, they simply didn't think about it.