Ubisoft working on new PC anti-piracy tool

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Ubisoft working on new PC anti-piracy tool

Posted Jul 29th 2009 8:00AM by John Callaham
Filed under: Biz

Piracy has been one of the major factors behind publishers and developers moving more towards console games. Trying to fight piracy through various DRM-based set ups has not slowed down the amount of illegal PC game copies on the Internet and in fact has upset some consumers who feel they are being subjected to overly restrictive rules on how they can install and use their legitamently purchased games.

During Ubisoft's conference call to investors this week (which you can listen to at their corporate web site) the publisher's CEO Yves Guillemot stated that they plan to implement new tools that he claims will "actually decrease tremendously the piracy on PC." He indicated the new tools will be ready sometime next year and perhaps even uses on an unnamed PC game to be released sometime before the end of 2009. We won't jump to conculsions about these anti-piracy "tools" yet but we do wonder what the response will be from consumers who don't care for any DRM set-ups at all in their PC games.

[Via Shacknews]

Tags: drm, pc-game-piracy, ubisoft

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Put in all the DRM you want, it's only a matter of time until two things happen:

- pirates crack it (some people like DRM cracking more than playing games)
- it gets too draconic and the public uproar demands them to remove itPosted at 10:09AM on Jul 29th 2009 by Kevin

I think publishers know their DRM systems will have little effect on software piracy. The new goal of publishers seems to be to create DRM systems which limit how paying customers can use their product. More specifically, to prevent consumers from lending it to friends, reselling it, or being able to use it indefinitely.

Atari started using a similar "in house" developed DRM system last year which they use when you buy games from their online store. I had to purchase a game from them before I realized how much of a step backwards it was for my rights as a consumer. I still have the 300MB install file that cannot be played unless Atari feels generous enough to restore my install limits or give me a new key.

In short, I'm not holding my breath that Ubisoft's DRM system will do anything to make anybody but investors who don't think long term happy.Posted at 11:39AM on Jul 29th 2009 by Spallit

My bet?

Its a one-time only install that requires you to be connected to a high-speed internet (Cable at least) and install several hidden "Spyware" programs that can't be uninstalled, requires a 50-character serial key and 100-character randomly generated keycode you must obtain online after entering in your Social Security number, and filling out a form.Posted at 12:04PM on Jul 29th 2009 by devilsei

Since DRM just gets cracked all the time anyway, publishers need to realize that piracy on the PC is going to happen and is a cost of doing business, just like used game sales and license fees to Sony/Microsoft/Nintendo are for consoles. Used game sales take millions if not billions of dollars from publishers every year yet you never see DRM or keycode nonsense for them. Posted at 4:54PM on Jul 29th 2009 by lokar82