EA loosens PC-game DRM

By Brendan Sinclair, GameSpotPosted Apr 1, 2009 4:20 pm PT

Customers can now "deauthorize" computers to get around SecuROM's five-machine limit on Spore, Mirror's Edge, and 17 other recent games.

After the digital rights management on last year's Spore sparked a popular uproar and a legal dispute, Electronic Arts has been backing off its aggressive--and apparently ineffective--DRM stance.

Spore is just one of 19 EA games that use SecuROM.

First the publisher relaxed the game's SecuROM security to allow users to install it on five different computers instead of three. Now the publisher is letting customers "de-authorize" PCs so they don't count against the limit, which remains in effect.

The move isn't just limited to Spore. EA has used SecuROM on 19 of its PC games released since May of 2008, and new de-authorization tools available from the publisher allow customers to manage the systems approved by the DRM software on a game-by-game basis. A full list of the relevant games is included on the Web site.

DRM de-authorization isn't EA's only step away from especially restrictive DRM. Last week, EA Play head Rod Humble announced that The Sims 3 would use the age-old PC DRM scheme of having a serial code included in the retail box, and no online authentication would be needed.

"We feel like this is a good, time-proven solution that makes it easy for you to play the game without DRM methods that feel overly invasive or leave you concerned about authorization server access in the distant future," Humble said.

The Sims 3 is set for release on the PC and Mac on June 2.

84 Comments

  • mattxavier

    Posted Jun 29, 2009 8:11 pm PT

    DRM is absolutely pointless, a good game will always sell, Mass Effect did.

  • nirmalsuki

    Posted May 26, 2009 9:39 am PT

    One word... Software Piracy... Ok, two words, but it's faaantastic!!!

  • The10thRider

    Posted May 13, 2009 12:48 pm PT

    Maybe I'll buy spore and conquest now.

  • Carpe_Noctum

    Posted Apr 15, 2009 10:23 pm PT

    They just sold 3 copies. There are 3 girls I have bought both The Sims and The Sims 2 for and I wasn't going to get them The Sims 3 because of that crazy DRM but now I will. Good move on EA's part.

  • PnoizeMD

    Posted Apr 15, 2009 5:44 am PT

    cool, i can finally buy mass effect

  • iceeman

    Posted Apr 14, 2009 11:43 pm PT

    back in the day, ea used to have a phone number u can call to do business with...companies should remember the customer comes first. getting too large and ignoring customer requests can come back to haunt you.

  • BabycakesOMGLOL

    Posted Apr 14, 2009 3:19 pm PT

    ya, i doubt by the this time next year there will even be a DRM in effect.

  • Writin_Reg

    Posted Apr 9, 2009 11:55 am PT

    How about EA REMOVING SECUROM from the Sims 2 games period, so those of us who have all expansion and stuff packs can actually play all our legally purchased software. The revoke tool does nothing for Sims 2 players as we got the Same Securom as Spore but without any limits and with or without limit Securom makes the games destructive to our pc components. Becomes a moot point to show good will to customers who cannot buy EA's products at all when we can't use them on our pcs. Even if the games came free, I have no use for them. EA needs to REVOKE SECUROM period.

  • nappan

    Posted Apr 7, 2009 3:22 pm PT

    *glances at article* ... meanwhile, back in the real world where everyone has used other means to disable or bypass DRM...

  • bad_furby

    Posted Apr 7, 2009 5:35 am PT

    exactly
    but being forced to connect to the internet, just so u can play the darn game to begin with is just south or ridiculous

  • GpVon

    Posted Apr 6, 2009 8:48 pm PT

    piracy will exist no matter what they do. remember there is always some one out there smarter then you.( not saying you as in you Max,but in general)

  • MaxCadillac

    Posted Apr 6, 2009 6:48 pm PT

    What's the solution for piracy? Live with it? BAH!

  • Sins-of-Mosin

    Posted Apr 6, 2009 12:39 pm PT

    snake289 - Being flagshipped is a good reason.

  • BloodMist

    Posted Apr 6, 2009 7:00 am PT

    The BF games haven't been good since 1942.Wake up people.

  • Gezquester

    Posted Apr 6, 2009 2:18 am PT

    I still cant even believe they did this! I was fuming when I found out that I already had this secuROM crap from Hellgate: London, I was thinking phew, I escaped its grasp. I really hate EA because of this but hey, Battlefield: Bad Company is just too good! Its really sly of them though, its like buying a game from a retailer and then them turning around and saying - Oh yeah now we have to punch you in the gut thee times, sorry, its part of the DRM. We would have told you before but then you wouldnt have bought the game would you? - It sucks!

  • HOMIE_G64

    Posted Apr 5, 2009 1:24 pm PT

    I miss the old CD-keys. Nothing beats losing yours and scouring your registries looking for it. This is a great step for EA.

  • Darthnaevus

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 10:22 am PT

    finally a good DRM news concerning EA!

  • doktron

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 7:13 am PT

    This is relatively good news for PC gaming,and definitely a step in the right direction,but it still dosent go far enough.EA exec Rod Humble states that "using the age old PC DRM scheme of using a serial code printed on the retail box(or game manuel,or wherever) with no online activation... is a good, time PROVEN method that makes it easy to play the game, without overly invasive DRM schemes that leaves one concerned about future authorization server access or authentication".So why cant they use serial code activation for all PC games,which I have never complained about since I believe it is a decent and fair method of authenticating any PC game.
    The PC is by far the superior gaming platform,and it would be sad to see it destroyed by crappy DRM schemes that dont even prevent what they are intended for (game piracy).There is always a way to fix things,but shooting yourself in the foot isnt one of them!

  • Destroy3r3

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 6:52 am PT

    Jesus, I really can't understand why companies find so stupid ways to protect their games! After all, pirates do whatever they want, simply because they are always one step ahead of the companies and one way or another they break the protection.

    And the ones who face the problems are the gamers who buy a legal copy of the product, as they have to spent quite some time to correctly install and register the game, not to mention the NECESSARY Internet connection. In the previews years, you could buy a game, go to your home and play it in nearly 15 minutes. Now you need at least one and half an hour to play a game.

    I bought GTA IV and waited 2 hours until it was installed and correctly set up with all this DRM sh*t, and my friend who bought an illegal copy managed to play it in 30 minutes...
    Ok, piracy is not the solution, but neither is a stupid protection which will be bypassed 3 days after the game's release...

  • Deepfreeze32

    Posted Apr 3, 2009 5:41 am PT

    Well, this is a step in the right direction.

    *Is glad that HAWX has no real DRM to speak of*

Crysis Warhead Quick Links

Summary | Reviews | News | Previews & Features | Images | Videos | Downloads | Answers | Hints & Cheats | Forum | Check Prices

Check Prices: $29.92 – 31.99

Amazon.com $29.92 SHOP ›
eBay $29.99 SHOP ›
Best Buy $29.99 SHOP ›
advertisement

Related Content

Matches based on text similarity.

advertisement
Click Here

Related Unions

Crysis Warhead Boxshot Enlarge the boxshot
Crysis Warhead

Game Stats

  • Rank:
    563 of 78,795
    (up by 46)
    PC Rank:
    206 of 12,639
    Highest Rank:
    1 in 2008
    Tracking:
    4,274 Track It»
    Wishlists:
    2,085 Wish It»
  • Player Reviews:
    280
    Player Ratings:
    5401
    Users Now Playing:
    1,007
  • Number of Players:

    1 Player, 16 Online

  • Top 5 User Tags:
    1. crysis warhead
    2. crysis
    3. warhead
    4. crytek
    5. fps
  • Mature Rating Description

    Titles rated M (Mature) have content that may be suitable for persons ages 17 and older. Titles in this category may contain intense violence, blood and gore, sexual content and/or strong language. Learn more

Full Game Details »Close

Games you may like…

Users who looked at content for this game also looked at these games.

See More Similar Games
advertisement