Ubisoft Ditches Always-On DRM

[dangoball]

I wonder if the reason it only made up 7% of sales was because of the horrific and stupid DRM that actually made it preferable to be using a pirate copy.

This is almost certainly going to boost their PC sales.

Though Ubisoft's DRM is no longer a PC problem, it's worth noting that - according to Ubisoft's figures - PC sales made up only 7% of the total in the last fiscal year. You do know WHY it was only 7% don't you Ubisoft?

I am not going to defend Ubisoft here. But PC games get pirated on a MASSIVE scale; not just Ubisoft, every publisher suffers from piracy. Consoles have far less piracy and thus are more popular for devs.

The overall piracy rate for a popular game is between 50% and 75% on the PC and less than 20% on consoles.

Actually, games get pirated less because of DRM. The loss of people not buying the game because of DRM is less than the loss of people who pirate the game (who were potential buyers). The DRM gets cracked eventually, but it is just to prevent the game from being pirated for as long as possible, usually a week or 2.

inb4 you being labeled as corporate sell-out

OT:
Well, this is good, right? So let's enjoy it while it lasts, for as we all know, big companies like to shoot themself in their feet.

 

[4RM3D]

inb4 you being labeled as corporate sell-out

OT:
Well, this is good, right? So let's enjoy it while it lasts, for as we all know, big companies like to shoot themself in their feet.

Meh, just explaining the situation.

You got two kinds of pirates:

1) People that don't CARE about the impact on the industry.
2) Poeple that don't KNOW about the impact on the industry.

The first group is hopeless to talk to, but I might be able to knock some sense into the second group

I am not a fan of DRM. The usual ones, e.g. first time activation, are not so bad and I don't tend to have an issue with it. But Ubisoft went too far with the always online DRM. The install limit on some DRMs sucks also.

 

[Covarr]

Is this going to apply retroactively to older games? Will I be able to play my Steam copy of Might and Magic Heroes 6 without uplay?

P.S. Thanks

 

[Two-A]

The ground, it feels so cold...I think hell has frozen over!

Really though, I am thrilled to hear that Ubisoft are finally starting to take steps in the right direction.

In the next news report: "Flying Pigs Spotted Over Montreal's Skyline" XD

OT: Freaking finally, I guess. Glad they switched to a much less intrusive method.

 

[2fish]

Ubisoft games upgraded from "avoid like plague" to "steam sale"(minimum of 75% off). Can they hold this upgrade or will it slip through their fingers? Find out next time on The Evil Mr. Bean of Publishers!

I wonder how much money it cost them to annoy their customers. Why don?t they release those figures?

 

[GAunderrated]

I wonder if the reason it only made up 7% of sales was because of the horrific and stupid DRM that actually made it preferable to be using a pirate copy.

This is almost certainly going to boost their PC sales.

Though Ubisoft's DRM is no longer a PC problem, it's worth noting that - according to Ubisoft's figures - PC sales made up only 7% of the total in the last fiscal year. You do know WHY it was only 7% don't you Ubisoft?

I am not going to defend Ubisoft here. But PC games get pirated on a MASSIVE scale; not just Ubisoft, every publisher suffers from piracy. Consoles have far less piracy and thus are more popular for devs.

The overall piracy rate for a popular game is between 50% and 75% on the PC and less than 20% on consoles.

Actually, games get pirated less because of DRM. The loss of people not buying the game because of DRM is less than the loss of people who pirate the game (who were potential buyers). The DRM gets cracked eventually, but it is just to prevent the game from being pirated for as long as possible, usually a week or 2.

Got the data for those statistics? If not please take those Fox News style stats to try and justify something that should never be justified in order to push an ignorant agenda and just go. Thanks

 

[Steve the Pocket]

I'm not taking this seriously until they also patch it out of their older games. Which, admittedly, they are pretty likely to do since the alternative would require keeping the DRM servers online forever just to support older games. Or shutting them down and letting players suck it, but I'd like to think even Ubisoft isn't that stupid.

 

[Harker067]

Hmm well they've made me reconsider getting Heroes of might and magic 6 but we'll see how things go...

 

[praetor_alpha]

Now we can work on that other issue - the one where I don't care for any Ubisoft IP.

 

[disgruntledgamer]

LMAO that it took them this long to figure out that people don't like having to be connected online 24/7 to play single player games.

Also an LOL to the PC fanboys who say PC are taking over 7% sales LMAO.

 

[llyrnion]

Is this retroactive? I never bought Assasins Creed 2 because of the DRM scheme. Will buying a copy now not require the system? 'Cause the game boxes at the retailer still carry the always-online warning.

Well, AC1 is on gog.com, with no DRM, naturally. Who knows, maybe we don't have to wait too much for AC2 being there, too.

 

[Sartan0]

Hah! About time. It is going to take some time for me to look at any of their games again as I trained myself to just ignore anything with their name attached to it. It did not help that they made this announcement after Pax Prime when I had a chance to look at their games but did not.

 

[llyrnion]

Anyway, it's a positive move. I have adjusted my attitude from "Ubi-who?" to "cautious optimism". Let's see what they do next.

OT: Happy birthday, Freddie!

 

[Metalrocks]

well, thats at least something. was playing future soldier before. nice game. not great but nice. the good thing about uplay was, that i could get the whole soundtrack for free and some wallpapers. havent listened to the entire soundtrack yet, some are ok, some are crap but hey, it was for free.

 

[Spygon]

I feel something is not right here i am very happy ubisoft have realized this was never the right solution.But it is to good to be true and i do not trust ubisoft there something is afoot here.

 

[Waaghpowa]

I'm confused and don't know how to feel. Should I be happy that the bullshit is over which could entice me to actually buy Ubisoft games now or should I be annoyed that it took them this long to get rid of the stupid thing?

 

[Aggieknight]

Sorry UBI, but you've lost me already. Should have listened a year ago when the entire internet was telling you just how stupid this whole DRM thing was.

Regardless of the reason, I for one am glad that they have finally made adjustments and will temporarily suspend my vendetta.

 

[DoPo]

Hmm well they've made me reconsider getting Heroes of might and magic 6 but we'll see how things go...

If you do, I still have a coupon [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.386490-Steam-coupon-for-Heroes-6-DLC] for the DLC campaign. But just know that the new DRM scheme wouldn't affect Heroes - it's only for new titles. H6 still requires always-online. Well, technically you can pay offline, but you lose some features of the game, which is annoying as hell and online single play is preferable.

 

[Weaver]

I wonder if the reason it only made up 7% of sales was because of the horrific and stupid DRM that actually made it preferable to be using a pirate copy.

This is almost certainly going to boost their PC sales.

I'd say this too.

Michael Pachter estimated Ubisoft's PC sales dropped by 90% with no boost to console sales after their DRM policy took hold.

 

[TheDutch3Z]

I wonder if the reason it only made up 7% of sales was because of the horrific and stupid DRM that actually made it preferable to be using a pirate copy.

This is almost certainly going to boost their PC sales.

Though Ubisoft's DRM is no longer a PC problem, it's worth noting that - according to Ubisoft's figures - PC sales made up only 7% of the total in the last fiscal year. You do know WHY it was only 7% don't you Ubisoft?

I am not going to defend Ubisoft here. But PC games get pirated on a MASSIVE scale; not just Ubisoft, every publisher suffers from piracy. Consoles have far less piracy and thus are more popular for devs.

The overall piracy rate for a popular game is between 50% and 75% on the PC and less than 20% on consoles.

Actually, games get pirated less because of DRM. The loss of people not buying the game because of DRM is less than the loss of people who pirate the game (who were potential buyers). The DRM gets cracked eventually, but it is just to prevent the game from being pirated for as long as possible, usually a week or 2.

CD Project would like to have a word with you
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/117361-DRM-Is-Still-Dumb-Says-CD-Projekt