While that's great, I never get why people rag on Steam. You can play games offline, you know. If it can't connect to the servers (though you need to wait a minute or so), it gives the option to open Steam in Offline mode, and then you can play.

"...but I'm sympathetic to the profound effect piracy's had on PC gaming, and I'm hard pressed to find too many instances where someone would find themselves without a connection."

If you can't think of too many instances, you aren't thinking very hard. And what's this "profound effect" you're talking about? Yeah, Ubi will tell you they lose bajillions of sales, but without evidence it's just a corporate claim. PC gaming is flourishing, for companies that know how to treat customers like people, instead of thieves. Look at the digital download space. Look at The Witcher 2, which CD Projekt removed all DRM from, and seems to have sold rather well.

Who knows, maybe pirates are cutting pc sales by some significant percent. I highly doubt it, but maybe. How is it that punishing the people who paid for your game helps, ever? Ubi is just making it worse. More people pirate certain games because the pirates are offering a superior product, simple as that. It's the lack of DRM that makes it so.

I really wish I had heard this news before I bought my PC copy. Now I just wasted 15 bucks for a crappier version of a game that I've really been looking forward to playing.

@digitalsea87 said:

Ubisoft lied, and that's obviously an asshole move. But what I don't get is the outrage at always-online DRM (remember the Diablo III news a while back?). Isn't everyone who plays video games pretty much always connected to the internet? I mean, you surely are if you're playing From Dust, which is a digitally distributed game. It honestly feels like whining over nothing. What's wrong with being connected to the internet? I'm connected to the internet right now. It feels good. Bad mouse controls and a capped framerate, however, those are bad things. Sounds like I'll be playing it on PS3, if I ever do at all.

Right now I'm in the middle of moving. The place I'm currently at doesn't have internet yet (not for another few weeks) and it sucks that I can't play certain games because I don't have an internet connection. I've been going back and playing older games from the late 90's/early 2000's. It sucks to not be able to just play a game I bought, even if its for just a few weeks.

I don't think that they only screw PC gamers over. I think they do so to everyone. One example, the Splinter Cell: Double Agent port for PS3. Awful, awful port.

Add another game to my list of games I wont buy becasue of bullshit DRM policy's.

I have no problem with DRM. I purchase all my software and am happy to comply with whatever procedures the vendors deem necessary. In fact, I think DRM should be more prominent, not less. I'm tired of piracy. It is destroying the industry. 

@Capum15 said:

While that's great, I never get why people rag on Steam. You can play games offline, you know. If it can't connect to the servers (though you need to wait a minute or so), it gives the option to open Steam in Offline mode, and then you can play.

Steam means a company has to approve you playing the game you bought.  A lot of people hate that, and worry it means they will not be playable 20 years down the road.

ahem.. 
 
 
Fuck you Ubisoft. Fool me once shame on you.  
 
Shit won't happen again either.

@Colonel_Fury said:

@Brodehouse

PC gamers are upset about something? Get right outta town.

I know, right??

... I understand the problem, but pretty much this is how I feel when i read most comments

 
So when can we expect online only drm + cdkeys on console games?

I will not buy any game that requires a constant internet connection to play single player. There are times when I do not have my laptop connect to the net, and I refuse to "rent" a game that I paid full price for. It should be my game, and I will play it when and where I damn well please until the end of time.

I can and do play games that are 15+ years old, does anyone really think these servers will still be around in 2026?

Thing is, the people plugging into uTorrent CAN install the game with no kinds of problem. It's the people who buy it legitimately that are harmed by this, how is that hard to understand? Yes, sure, lets go by your made up percentage of gamers being connected to the internet 95% of the time. That 5% of the time, they can't play the game. People who pirate the game however, can play it 100% of the time. Even though your percentage was pulled out of thin air, and completely wrong, it still goes to prove that the pirated experience is better. And quite simply, if the pirated experience is better than the legit experience, the DRM isn't working.

I will not buy any game that requires a constant internet connection to play single player. There are times when I do not have my laptop connect to the net, and I refuse to "rent" a game that I paid full price for. It should be my game, and I will play it when and where I damn well please until the end of time.

I can and do play games that are 15+ years old, does anyone really think these servers will still be around in 2026?

I was so excited for From Dust and First I had to be informed literally 24 hours before release that the PC version was being pushed back so now I have to resist buying the 360 version for 2 weeks...fine whatever, then it gets released and reports of horrid controls and a capped frame rate came out...well that sucks but I can still use my controller, now this, nah Ubisoft I don't think ill be picking up this little gem and it is all thanks to your bullshit.

Edit: ALSO the constant internet connection is NOT being overblown you have to remember there are those of us who live out in the boonies and have to put up with shitty local ISP's and we have no choice but to deal with a crap unstable connection so That fact should not be understated at all, we don't all live next to the fucking sonic ring.

I'm confused as to why always online DRM is so infuriating....in this day isn't everyone's internet just on all the time. I know mine is. Does anyone actually disconnect their internet when they play games? 
 
Color me confused.

I have never had an issue with Ubisoft's DRM policy, mostly because I don't have a shitty connection. Ubisoft is pushing forward with this approach, though it may be a little premature to assume that everyone can have that kind of connection at this stage.

The issue with servers sounds like they aren't putting as high a priority on the matter as other publishers that are more dependent on them, i.e Blizzard. But if it is actually having an effect on piracy as they claim, then I don't blame them for trying. I am thankful for Ubisoft's (the developer, not the publisher) ports of the Assassins Creed games, because those games are fantastic and much much better on PC.

My support for them may be because I have not had a bad experience yet, however, lies by publishers and bad ports by devs are something to be legitimately angry about.

"We will assess each future PC title and strive to offer the best gameplay experience possible while also ensuring that we are protecting the amazing work and effort of our talented creative teams."

if i had known this before i bought from dust i would not have bought it ... now im trying to get as quickly as possible though the game ... and i have decided that i will never touch a ubisoft published ti til again ...

the same goes for diablo 3 i was looking forward to that game but my connection is spotty to the net so im not gonna get that game ...

Ubisoft sure is scummy and has been for a while. With the heaps of shovelware released, at times, all at once on Nintendo's Wii and DS consoles along with their barbaric take on DRM and now with yet another Assassin's Creed release coming up, it gets me thinkin' on what Ubisoft will pull next.
 
It really is too bad about From Dust. Really cool game, and it was to be expected that it'd be better in some ways on PC, but jeez. Ubisoft sure did get money from the pre-orders (that people aren't disputing, of course), but that's all they can expect now that this news has blown up. They're fucking over the developers more than anything.

The part I can't wrap my head around is that if the DRM can be cracked at all hasn't it failed? While I wouldn't like it, I could understand if this form of DRM actually made it impossible for people to copy the game. But at this point it actually makes more sense to download the cracked version despite the fact that I preordered and paid for the legit copy.  I had planned on playing From Dust on my laptop while away on my next trip where an internet connection just isn't going to be available, so this seems to be my only solution.
 
By implementing this form of DRM, Ubisoft have made the pirated copy the better version of the game for the end customer.  
 
Just my 2 cents

Seriously, each time they employ a new DRM method, it only makes it harder for a few people, the hackers who crack the DRM.  Then it's just as easy for people to download the cracked version, regardless of the DRM method.  The best part is that these DRM methods are actually seen as a challenge and somewhat of a game to the people that crack it, so they'll never see an end to that.  They're just providing an extra free game for the hackers, while punishing those that pay for the game. 
 
However, this doesn't really affect me, since I no longer play PC games, in part because of DRM methods.

From Dust on PC has NO MOUSE control, the mouse is emulating an analog stick.

Ubisoft is such a joke. This only confirms it further.

I won't play their new DRM'ed games bought, cracked, or on consoles. The more of my money they get, the longer they'll keep playing this game.

Am I the only person not being bothered by any of this shit and enjoying my From Dust for the PC?

@Procyon27: Some people's internet connections are spotty, or someone may be playing on their laptop, while travelling, and not have internet access. And then there are times when your internet service ceases temporarily, for whatever reason.

A mate of mine bought the PC version of Steam and said it's pretty piss poor.

@StingingVelvet said:

@Capum15 said:

While that's great, I never get why people rag on Steam. You can play games offline, you know. If it can't connect to the servers (though you need to wait a minute or so), it gives the option to open Steam in Offline mode, and then you can play.

Steam means a company has to approve you playing the game you bought.  A lot of people hate that, and worry it means they will not be playable 20 years down the road.

...It's still hard to get. I mean, go and buy a 1TB external, install steam on it, and download every game you buy. If money is a problem, don't buy any games from Steam games for a while until you get the TB. If you do that, you should be able to play any games you got whenever you want via the Offline mode, unless Valve somehow manages to explode the drive.I can see that a "middleman" needing to authenticate the game being a bit weird, but...it's an amazing service. I guess it boils down to opinions, as I (and most people I know), love Steam.

DRM is lame indeed but what's worse is the quality of the ports they give us.
Remember the Double Agent port?.. Phahahaha, Ubisoft, stop trying to make PC games.  You've already broke my heart :'(

Just last night, before I had looked into the Dust DRM thing I was like "yeah I feel like a new game". It was a toss up between The Bastion, From Dust, and AOE: Online.

At least they made my decision a bit easier? Hell steam in general is its own (albeit not as full secure) level of DRM just by it being only on steam. This is just a pain.

Am I the only person not being bothered by any of this shit and enjoying my From Dust for the PC?

Ubisoft lied, and that's obviously an asshole move. But what I don't get is the outrage at always-online DRM (remember the Diablo III news a while back?). Isn't everyone who plays video games pretty much always connected to the internet? I mean, you surely are if you're playing From Dust, which is a digitally distributed game. It honestly feels like whining over nothing. What's wrong with being connected to the internet? I'm connected to the internet right now. It feels good. Bad mouse controls and a capped framerate, however, those are bad things. Sounds like I'll be playing it on PS3, if I ever do at all.

Very nice and informative article! I like to see you giving the DRM situation some of your time since I'm highly interested in any further developments and it seems to be one of those subjects that doesn't get consistent coverage a whole lot. Thanks for an interesting overview of the situation!

As much as the bait-and-switch issue is aggravating, I think the fact that this is YET ANOTHER port to PC that is not optimized for PC controls is even worse. Here's one game where people generally commented that as fun as this is on XBLA, it would be great to see a higher-res version with mouse controls for the PC. Ugh.

I wouldn't say I'm furious, more, disappointed than anything. When I play I really enjoy myself, but I have try my hardest not to stop when the controls won't do what I want them to. When I played the trial on the X-Box I loved it, but obviously thought it would control much better with a mouse. To see what they did with the controls in the PC version is just insulting to the game.

So a bunch of twelve year olds get pissy on Reddit of all places and this is breaking news? Okay.

@Koshka said:

I'm not for this whole always online DRM thing usually, but why isn't everyone up in arms about something like Starcraft2? I love that game and play it constantly, but there wasn't this type of uproar about it. I really can't quite figure out what Blizzard does to make everyone not care and then Ubisoft does something similar (that's easy to hack around) and everyone is pissed off so bad.

I know they lied, but I'm saying with many of their games.

Starcraft&Diablo survived on multiplayer for decades, it's somewhat reasonable to assume that's what most players want to play anyway. While in games like From Dust and AC2 you don't even have multiplayer and are yet still forced online. Not to mention that some people have been waiting for Diablo3 and Starcraft2 for over a decade while playing multiplayer of Diablo2/Starcraft ;)

The difference is also battle.net vs uplay or whatever other crap ubisoft has setup there.

Blizzard has with battle.net one of the oldest, biggest and among the most reliable gaming networks around. It pre-dates steam (it even predates Half-Life) and thanks to WoW it nearly handles more users per day then steam does in a week.

If i'm forced online to a certain system i rather use the one that has billions of WoW subscriber money and probably the most experience behind it, that i have been using for over a decade anyway. Instead of ubisofts thing which can from the looks of it easily be taken down by a couple of script kiddies DoS attacks..

@Mumrik: Laptops don't equal poor connections any more than desktops do.  The only place I can see laptop being equal to a problem is for portable gaming purposes.. and I don't really believe that's a substantial share of the market.  Happy to look at stats that suggest otherwise.

Most of all i'm incredibly annoyed by the complete lack of Display options, with you literally only having the option to change the Resolution and switch to Windowed mode. I have a decent system but being forced to have maximum texture quality and depth of field is really stupid.

@Sjupp said:

Am I the only person not being bothered by any of this shit and enjoying my From Dust for the PC?

No I'm with you. I think the whole things been completely blown out of proportion and I find it somewhat hilarious that such a song and dance is being made about it devoid of rhyme or reason on the most part, especially by those denizens of the internet for whom lack of internet is a largely an alien concept. The game only requires internet access at launch. How many people are seriously impacted by this in reality? I don't think enough to justify the angry internet man uproar over it.

Like most when AC2 was announced with the always on DRM I was like 'Fuck you guys' like the rest, but when it hit the bargain bins I thought I'd give it a look see, and quite frankly I didn't encounter one problem with it whatsoever during the 30 hours or so played and that was with the always on DRM (which has now been downgraded to the same 'internet at launch' level as From Dust).

But I've a shitty internet connection? That's an issue for your ISP to address. You pay them for internet access, if you are getting constant disconnects that's something your ISP need to fix. You pay them for a service, they are obliged to address it. I mean sure you could sit there with your shitty internet connection and rage against anything that requires a regular connection, or you could get your ISP to deal with it and make your overall internet experience much better across the board.

I expect nothing less from Ubisoft. At the moment I've come to the conclusion they should simply stop releasing their games on PC. It's a waste of time when they are restricted and so badly ported as this.

@rickydlam said:

The PC version def looks better and I'm sure it runs smoother. However I did find that I switched over to the xbox controller about half way through because the mouse was just more of a hassle than help.

really depends on your system since there's basically no graphics options. runs like shit on mine, it's a very cpu intensive game it seems, which makes complete sense since it's a big simulation

Mentioning Reddit?

Disgusting.

Another reason to stick with Steam over Origin. Valve is a company for gamers who stopped a scumbag publisher. +1 Valve

I get around this type of shit by just not playing PC games. These are all just ports of console games anyway. The next, and probably last PC games I'll be picking up for the foreseeable future and Guild Wars 2 and Diablo 3, and that's assuming Diablo 3 doesn't wind up on consoles with mouse and keyboard support.

@Buzzkill said:

Another reason to stick with Steam over Origin. Valve is a company for gamers who stopped a scumbag publisher. +1 Valve

Origin is EA's online store. I'm not seeing what it has to do with Ubisoft's DRM choices.

Does DRM really work? I've always believed that the people who pirate games never intended to purchase them. It seems to always be the case that DRM hurts the consumer.