Bioshock DRM Limits Removed

Published on June 20, 2008 By kryo In PC Gaming

Last night, 2K Games announced that effective immediately, all limitations (install count limits, in particular) have been removed from Bioshock's activation system. A 2K representative further commented that the SecuROM activation system does remain, but it won't stop users from installing the game as frequently as needed.

Building on this fulfilled promise, she also vowed to users that should support for the game be ended in the future, 2K will ensure that users are still able to install and play it.

This seems to me to bode well not only for Bioshock owners, but for PC gamers in general. Might other companies using similar systems see this and join 2K in lightening, rather than tightening the restrictions on their DRM?

I for one hope that this news buoys Bioshock's sales at the very least, and sends a clear message to 2K and anyone watching that (as we've demonstrated with our own games) overly restrictive DRM is not necessary for a game to sell well. What do you think?

Comments (Page 1)

Magnumaniac

on Jun 20, 2008

It is a step in the right direction, certainly. Hopefully it will boost their sales and send the message out load and clear (although I suspect certain companies would need the message chiseled into their collective boardroom skulls before they begin to understand).

Good idea with the post of the news too, Kryo, there has been much (deserved) criticism of the subject on these forums, so it is right to promote the positive outcome.

I really do hope Bioshock is successful on the PC platform - it is an excellent game (only played it on 360), and that is from someone who usually has little or no time for FPS games.

pndrev

on Jun 20, 2008

Hm. I just hope EA takes the same step with Mass Effect ans Spore.

Coelocanth

on Jun 20, 2008

Yeah, it would be great if EA grabbed a clue from this, and I also hope 2K's sales figures rise as a result of this. If I didn't already own the game, I'd be tempted to buy it, although it still has the SecuROM crap with it, as Kryo noted.

Of note: you still must activate the game when you first install it and you still need the disc in the drive. But yeah, huge step in the right direction.

FellDian

on Jun 20, 2008

One small step for companies, one massive step for gaming.

pndrev

on Jun 20, 2008

Yes, they can now boast to be less restrictive than their competitors...

That the whole DRM business was a gargantuan leap in the wrong direction in the first place - no mention of that.

(PS: I always wanted to use the word 'gargantuan' in a legit post.

)

Phazon88

on Jun 20, 2008

Good to hear (as I own Bioshock). Lets hope EA opens their bloody ears as well.

ToJKa

on Jun 20, 2008

That's good news, now i can install and uninstall as i please. It would be even better if they released a patch that let's you install it without internet connection.

As for Mass Effect, it look's and sounds intresting, but only 3 unrevokable installs + no demo to see if it even runs decently = no buy.

Multianna

on Jun 20, 2008

WOW now thats great news

But i really doubt EA will follow any time soon.

I just hope this will make Bioshock sell even more

Zydor

on Jun 20, 2008

Well Done Bioshock - the only time EA will follow suit is when the year on year balance sheets hit negative growth

Regards
Zy

maudlin27

on Jun 20, 2008

Great news. I might actually consider buying bioshock now (although I'll probably have to wait till I upgrade my computer since I can only meet the minimum requirements).
I just hope EA listen, since mass effect and spore are two games I really want to play, but refuse to atm due to the draconian DRM measures they've put in place.

Vinraith

on Jun 20, 2008

Oh good, I can buy it now.

Zydor

on Jun 20, 2008

Oh good, I can buy it now.

Screenshot that and send it to EA - you never know they might suffer an attack of common sense, we can only hope

Regards
Zy

Camerooni

on Jun 20, 2008

The DRM is still there.. it's still on the disc - it's only the limit on the amount of active installs you may have that's been removed.. The game still has the potential to not install on some machines etc. etc.

LezRock

on Jun 20, 2008

Eh, it doesn't really make too much of a difference to me. I had to push myself to finish up the last hour or so of the game. Not that it's bad, but it wasn't what I thought it would be. I've had it uninstalled for quite some time now. I've been considering re-installing it just for the heck of it though.

Anthony R

on Jun 20, 2008

If a PC game is heavily DRM I won't support it.

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