Wed, Sep 05, 2012 | 11:30 BST

Ubisoft scraps DRM, discusses new anti-piracy methods

Ubisoft has battled piracy tooth and nail by using always-on DRM methods on its PC releases, sparking controversy among paying customers. However, the publisher has now backed down on its stance, and has abandoned the method. Ubisoft issued a statement on the matter this morning.

The publishers new policy is that all Ubisoft PC games will only require a single online activation after install, and can be played on any number of PCs.

In an interview with Rock Paper Shotgun, Ubisoft’s worldwide director for online games, Stephanie Perlotti explained, “We have listened to feedback, and since June last year our policy for all of PC games is that we only require a one-time online activation when you first install the game, and from then you are free to play the game offline.”

Perlotti continued, “Whenever you want to reach any online service, multiplayer, you will have to be connected, and obviously for online games you will also need to be online to play. But if you want to enjoy Assassin’s Creed III single player, you will be able to do that without being connected. And you will be able to activate the game on as many machines as you want.”

More as we get it.

Thanks RPS.

17 comment-trail-alt Posted in: PC, Ubisoft
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17 comments

#1

dex3108
05/09/12, 9:08 am

Old news, my ACB was one time activation, ACR, Driver SF… But bad thing is wee need UPlay client to play a game.

#2

Dave Cook
05/09/12, 9:10 am

@1 It was in effect a while ago yeah, but it’s weird it’s taken them so long to officially acknowledge it. Still, good news for those who hated it.

#3

Edo
05/09/12, 9:28 am

But teh piracy!? :) .

#4

Dave Cook
05/09/12, 9:29 am

@3 It’ll never go away :)

#5

GwynbleiddiuM
05/09/12, 9:31 am

This sounds like a trap.

#7

dex3108
05/09/12, 9:38 am

@Dave

Every illegal download for publisher is piracy but it’s not that simple.

Download illegal copy + play 2 levels = demo
Download illegal copy + buy cheap key = lack of respect for developers
Download illegal copy + never play it + delete = nothing
Download illegal copy + damaged original media = backup
etc.

Also dollar = euro policy is not good and lack of content on Ubishop for some countries (like mine) is not good also. Publishers need to improve distribution and price range depending on a country. In my opinion it is better to sell 1000 games for half price than 10 for full :D

#8

Fin
05/09/12, 9:53 am

@8

Download illegal copy = pirate.

#9

dex3108
05/09/12, 9:59 am

@8

I have downloaded one or two games from illegal source because my original disc was scratched. Am i pirate now?

#10

Edo
05/09/12, 10:05 am

@9 Yes you arr…just kidding :) .

#11

TheBlackHole
05/09/12, 10:05 am

@5 lol. Love the paranoia.

#12

GwynbleiddiuM
05/09/12, 10:27 am

@9 People were burnt alive for less.

#13

absolutezero
05/09/12, 12:55 pm

RPS: But last year it was said that the so-called “always-on” DRM had shown a clear reduction in piracy. The quote was, “A clear reduction in piracy from our titles, which required a persistent online connection, and from that point of view the requirement is a success.” Have you any data to evidence this, and if so, are you going to publish it?

Perotti: I’m not going to comment on data. That was an unfortunate comment. We have listened to feedback, and since June last year our policy for all of PC games is that we only require a one-time online activation when you first install the game, and from then you are free to play the game offline.

#14

DSB
05/09/12, 1:03 pm

@13 LOL. Asked and answered :P

This just in: Ubisoft are full of shit.

#15

bitsnark
05/09/12, 1:06 pm

@13 @14

The amount of ‘unfortunate comments’ in that article is quite amusing :)

#16

Cobra951
05/09/12, 3:46 pm

Do Ubi’s stats include the number of players they introduced to piracy, as the only way to play their purchased games when Ubi’s servers screwed up?

#17

TheWulf
05/09/12, 4:13 pm

What the problem might be is that they’re not making games that every audience wants to play. Maybe there’s less of an audience for things like Assassin’s Creed on consoles than there is on the PC. I know that I have damn near no interest in those games. I piqued a little at the story of AC III, but then I remember how much I hate the horribly stale one button gameplay of AC.

See, one day I realised that Assassin’s Creed is basically a glorified, triple-A, super HD, historically set version of Whale Trail. But less fun. I’ll just play Whale Trail instead and leave Assassin’s Creed well alone. Besides, there are plenty more fun games out there for the taking.

If they’d just develop more fun games.

Maybe a sequel to Beyond Good & Evil done in the original, stylised style? One can dream, I suppose.

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