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Digital Gaming => Computer Gaming => Topic started by: Greybriar on September 05, 2012, 07:28:05 AM

Title: Ubisoft Scrapping Always-On DRM For PC Games
Post by: Greybriar on September 05, 2012, 07:28:05 AM
According to an interview by Rock, Paper Shotgun (http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/09/05/ubisoft-scrapping-always-on-drm-for-pc-games/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RockPaperShotgun+%28Rock%2C+Paper%2C+Shotgun%29), Ubisoft is scrapping its always-on DRM for PC Games.

That's the best gaming news I've heard in quite a while.
Title: Re: Ubisoft Scrapping Always-On DRM For PC Games
Post by: MIGMaster on September 05, 2012, 07:48:31 AM
+1
Title: Re: Ubisoft Scrapping Always-On DRM For PC Games
Post by: tgb on September 05, 2012, 07:55:27 AM
About time.
Title: Re: Ubisoft Scrapping Always-On DRM For PC Games
Post by: Bison on September 05, 2012, 07:56:25 AM
Long term sales must have tanked on their big name brand titles.
Title: Re: Ubisoft Scrapping Always-On DRM For PC Games
Post by: Shelldrake on September 05, 2012, 07:57:05 AM
Except they will probably replace it with something worse.
Title: Re: Ubisoft Scrapping Always-On DRM For PC Games
Post by: Anguille on September 05, 2012, 08:11:05 AM
sounds much better...
Title: Re: Ubisoft Scrapping Always-On DRM For PC Games
Post by: Gusington on September 05, 2012, 10:31:27 AM
Smells like victory.
Title: Re: Ubisoft Scrapping Always-On DRM For PC Games
Post by: MarkShot on September 05, 2012, 10:35:41 AM
Shelldrake beat me to it ... maybe StarF*ck 18.03 or something.  If you attempt to install the game on a second PC (or modify the hardware attached on your first), it reflashes with null bytes your motherboard BIOS.  But, of course, if you are not a pirate, why should you be worried?  :)
Title: Re: Ubisoft Scrapping Always-On DRM For PC Games
Post by: Huw the Poo on September 05, 2012, 12:43:12 PM
Yeah, I'm cautiously optimistic (I would've been all over Anno 2070 if it didn't have that DRM) but I won't believe it until I see it.  It will take more than an interview to win me back.
Title: Re: Ubisoft Scrapping Always-On DRM For PC Games
Post by: steve58 on September 05, 2012, 02:15:53 PM
I was very close to picking up Anno 2070 during the Summer Steam sale, but held off because of the DRM.  Anyone know if the DRM has been removed from their exisiting games or if this will only affect their games going forward?
Title: Re: Ubisoft Scrapping Always-On DRM For PC Games
Post by: Nefaro on September 05, 2012, 05:17:29 PM
Quote from: steve58 on September 05, 2012, 02:15:53 PM
I was very close to picking up Anno 2070 during the Summer Steam sale, but held off because of the DRM.  Anyone know if the DRM has been removed from their exisiting games or if this will only affect their games going forward?

I would wait until the whole thing is a done deal.  It's Ubi, after all.   I'll believe it when I see it since just one person mentioning it may not indicate a final decision.

After all the bad press, obviously lower sales, and the server/client issues.. I'm surprised it took them so long to even mention the possibility, however.  ::)  I suppose that their F-Up with accidentally installing a major security breach into our OS'es was the final straw that broke the DRM Peddler's back.  Actually, I'm half-convinced that they didn't wanna have to pay for all the upkeep on the stuff for much longer, especially when it gets screwed up like that. 

It never made much sense, spending a bunch of time and money on crazy DRM schemes, when their official reason is to force a relatively small group of people (pirates) to change their ways and give them money.  Dog chasing it's tail, and the only winners in that situation are the DRM Peddlers thriving on publishers' piracy fears.  ::)
Title: Re: Ubisoft Scrapping Always-On DRM For PC Games
Post by: Silent Disapproval Robot on September 05, 2012, 05:24:37 PM
Maybe they see it as redundant now that you have to go through their UPlay front end client to play.

GameFly has a decent sale on Ubi titles right now but I refuse to buy anything through GF until they provide access to all the titles I bought via D2D.
Title: Re: Ubisoft Scrapping Always-On DRM For PC Games
Post by: Nefaro on September 05, 2012, 06:25:11 PM
Quote from: Silent Disapproval Robot on September 05, 2012, 05:24:37 PM


GameFly has a decent sale on Ubi titles right now but I refuse to buy anything through GF until they provide access to all the titles I bought via D2D.

I'm beginning to believe that it's gone for good.

I'm concerned about the next digital retailer to have a change of ownership, or go under, and the similar loss of property (rentals?) that will disappear along with it.   :-\
Title: Re: Ubisoft Scrapping Always-On DRM For PC Games
Post by: Silent Disapproval Robot on September 05, 2012, 06:51:59 PM
Maybe.  Every time I think that they've stopped bringing old D2D titles over, they manage to add another one or two from my list.  I've got 3 holdouts left, only one of which I care about.  Once it's added, I'll use their service again.
Title: Re: Ubisoft Scrapping Always-On DRM For PC Games
Post by: Arctic Blast on September 05, 2012, 09:52:04 PM
Actually, this has pretty much been the deal for most new Ubi stuff for the past 6 months or so...activate once, done. I guess they've just stepped out and made it official.
Title: Re: Ubisoft Scrapping Always-On DRM For PC Games
Post by: FarAway Sooner on September 05, 2012, 11:10:34 PM
Asinine DRM practices was the biggest reason that I didn't buy Heroes of Might & Magic VI (or whatever they called it).
Title: Re: Ubisoft Scrapping Always-On DRM For PC Games
Post by: Martok on September 06, 2012, 12:28:45 PM
Happy news.  Now I might actually go and get me some Assassins Creed action. 


Title: Re: Ubisoft Scrapping Always-On DRM For PC Games
Post by: Arctic Blast on September 06, 2012, 12:29:36 PM
Quote from: Martok on September 06, 2012, 12:28:45 PM
Happy news.  Now I might actually go and get me some Assassins Creed action.

Skip the first one...it had the basic idea, but it wasn't quite ready for prime time. start with AC2.
Title: Re: Ubisoft Scrapping Always-On DRM For PC Games
Post by: Martok on September 06, 2012, 01:41:31 PM
That was my plan.  :) 

Title: Re: Ubisoft Scrapping Always-On DRM For PC Games
Post by: mirth on September 06, 2012, 01:53:34 PM
Quote from: Silent Disapproval Robot on September 05, 2012, 05:24:37 PM
GameFly has a decent sale on Ubi titles right now but I refuse to buy anything through GF until they provide access to all the titles I bought via D2D.

+1. I don't have access to several of my D2D games  >:(