Ubisoft Introduced A Tool To Drop DRM Requirement

DRM requirement may have been the most ill-advised form of copy protection since the Sony Rootkit scandal. However, currently the Ubisoft is reported to release a patch for different games, including Assassin’s Creed 2 and Splinter Cell: Conviction, which are affected by “always on” DRM. The new tool doesn’t require a constant broadband connection any longer, but still needs a connection every time the game is launched.

It was 6 months ago that Ubisoft made headlines over a DRM system, which was ultimately backed off, choosing to use Steam. The controversy over the DRM started when a number of games required a constant broadband connection. Although the DRM was called a breakthrough in stopping piracy, it all went downhill from there for the company. Just 24 hours after the moment of official game release, its copy protection was cracked, enabling the illegal downloading and playing of the game anyway. Meanwhile, lots of users and observers pointed out that the constant connection was really degrading, especially for those with flaky broadband connections. As a result, it turned out that users of the pirated version of the game enjoyed smooth action, while users with legal copies would have the game freeze whenever their Internet connection gave out. Of course, fans of the game were furious to feel themselves less free than pirates.

Meanwhile, it went even worse when the servers responsible for the DRM eventually went down, locking out legal gamers but not affecting pirates. In other words, Assassin’s Creed 2 probably went down in history as a bright example of how copy protection can ruin the gaming experience.

Now, Ubisoft is reported to release a patch for its games having the “always on” DRM. In short words, the patch removes the requirement for a constant broadband connection, only leaving the necessity of having a connection for launching the game. Thus, after users boot the game properly, they can shut off their broadband connection and enjoy the game.

Most industry observers agree that Ubisoft finally took a step in the right direction, but no-one can deny that the damage has already been done for users who keep thinking that the company’s games simply don’t work. In fact, most users are rightly sure that requiring a broadband connection for playing a video game, even in a single player mode(!) is just ridiculous.