Ubisoft DRM games to be temporarily unplayable

God damn those Ubisoft / EA....they are really giving a bunch of crap to their customers. As far as I know, DRM is one big big lie and illusions of safety. They are so stubborn and they really think that the DRM protection is the right way to increase their money income...WORNG, they do this because they are greedy, not because they care about games we bought from them..In 90s games didnt have any kind of protection and companies were making millions of it, now DRM only rejects more and more people who really give their money for real support, in reaturn we just receive bunch of crap and "apologies" ?!? I just have to say: This is very very very sad because so good franchises like "Heroes of might and magic"...are being destroyed this way...

@Rocker6 said: @XanderZane Yet you are unable to access MP components of your games without XBL Gold.That is a form of a DRM too,since it locks a part of the game you payed for.I hear there are some methods to play MP games without PSN and XBL,but there are cracks for PC DRMs too.So yeah,consoles have DRM! ****************************************************** That's not DRM. You can still play multiplayer games with friends offline. With DRM, you can't play anything if you don't have an online connection. The game won't play at all unless it can access EA or UbiSoft security servers. It's total BS. With XBox 360, you can play all the games you download offline and with multiplayers on most locally. You just can't play online without XBL. So yes, you can play multiplayer games without XBL.

@XanderZane Yet you are unable to access MP components of your games without XBL Gold.That is a form of a DRM too,since it locks a part of the game you payed for.I hear there are some methods to play MP games without PSN and XBL,but there are cracks for PC DRMs too.So yeah,consoles have DRM!

@Rocker6 @XanderZane Consoles have DRM too in a form of services like XBL and PSN.Can't really play the MP without them,right? Also I would consider paying for on-line XBL thing just as bad as this always-online abomination on the PC... ********************************************************** I can play XBL games without being connected to XBL. You don't have to pay for XBL to download games off the marketplace. Gold membership just gives you access to all those crazy apps like Netflix, Hulu, ESPN, etc.. and lets you play online against friends. You do have to sign into the system with the a gametag to play the games, but it doesn't have to be connected to XBL. When my XBL was restricted due to a hacker going on my account, I played lots of XBL games with no issue. I don't know about PSN, as I've never disconnect the network and tried playing. I still think it will work though.

Ubisoft really don't care about PC gamers in the slightest. First we have the massive delay for Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, The AC2 DRM fiasco, the strict port settings on Brotherhood, which now render my game completely unplayable in multiplayer and now this? They need to either step up their game or let someone else deal with the PC side of things. They clearly can't cope.

Meanwhile they continue releasing useless DLC for Revelations. I remember when a game released with everything no nasty DRM attached and people wonder why console gaming is more popular then PC gaming.

I wont be buying another ubi game till they remove their drm, if they want drm that works just use steamworks. The sad thing is they will probably put it into their consoles games next gen.

and they wonder why people don't want to pay for their games when they can be had for free with none of these limitations. It's time game devs figure out drm does nothing but affect those who pay for their games.

I could not stop laughing when i first read this, once again the customer gets screwed over while the pirate gets to sail on his merry way, way to go ubi once again proving that DRM is not the way to combat piracy.

DRM - piracy is evil - but its also evil punishing those who buy legal software, only to find they are unable to use it because of the Softco's/Publisher's inability to create a safe reliable and workable environ for its customers. Poor old MAC users ..:lol:

I'm pretty sure that a quick search of the internet could find you a file or two to sort your problems

I don't support piracy...but how is DRM good for the consumer? How is this supposed to make us feel good about their DRM strategy. This is garbage!

you get what you pay for :D

@Hisarugi, I'ts not a mmo no, but has any of you actually did more than just talk smack and bought and played a ubisoft game lately? The DRM sucks, theres no denying that but they actually managed to do more with the ''online only'' policy than using it as a DRM. They incorporate all kind of very interesting cloud based features with their games. Anno has this weird political system where you can vote for parties along with other features. Heroes 6 has the Legacy system. Without going in details, the online features are much more than just a DRM slapped over a game.

@Henrique2324 -- Because everything is outsourced to "cloud" (hosting providers) these days. Sounds like they've been in the process of changing providers, and this is their cut-over day.

Disgusting, UBI. Just disgusting.

I get around annoyances like these by not buying games for the PC. Just makes things easier.

UBISOFT WAKE UP!!!!! YOU ARE PLANTING MINES ALL OVER YOURSELVES!!!

Whilst I think this stinks, a lot of other (better respected) games companies have this problem with legit games as well. Battle.Net periodically goes down for maintenance which will stop everyone who want's to play Diablo 3.

This isn't helping their case. Though they probably don't care, either way.

i buy games to prevent future problems caused by pirated copies of games....its the other way round now. pirated copies now feels more convenient. omg :(

Normally I would be annoyed, but if it improves the service, then I'm up for it. Because, honestly...those servers are horrendous.

Looks like they're gonna go bust if they keep swindling their customers like this.

That is ridiculous. Punish the people who legitimately buy your games while pirates still play them. Makes tons of sense.

DRM does not stop pirates, but apparently it can stop legitimate customers

Correction; "Ubisoft DRM games always unplayable"

That's too damned funny. "Oh, stop complaining about DRM, it doesn't affect anyone but pirates." Now you sychophantic suck-ups can enjoy not being able to play your games because of DRM that "only affects pirates". In the meantime, pirates will be playing perfectly fine the whole time.

Why the hell were they even using a third party facility for data-storage?

Why not leave your costumers screw themselves while you transition hosts. That seems to be Ubisoft policy for quite some time now. Screw us. Pirates can play those games meanwhile.

So what these people need to do is download a crack. Problem solved. You support the developer by buying the game then flip off the DRM by using a crack which avoids it. The middle ground between piracy and purchase. Everybody wins. Also this talk of Blizzard and the internet connection DRM reminded me of this http://penny-arcade.com/comic/2011/08/08

@Valen_Ca Not saying it's not true what you've just said...but it's predictable... People sometimes complain about something and in the end they still live with it... It's like they don't care but when the subject arises they are for the consumer rights...but still don't care... Anyway I'm curious what your job is that you get to work with people obsessed by Blizzard games...XD

@Darnasian Do I know how anticipated Blizzard games are? Yes, in fact I do, I work with people that are obsessed with Blizzard games, whether it is classic RTS Warcraft, WoW, Starcraft or Diablo, I hear them talking about it a lot. Heck I was a fan of Starcraft 1 as well as the Diablo games and I eagerly anticipated the release of Starcraft 2 and Diablo 3, until the need for an always online Internet connection was revealed. Do I think people are hypocrites for supporting games they love, not necessarily, I think that they are hypocrites if they go onto the internet, complain loudly and constantly about DRM that requires a constant internet connection and then supports companies that do it. Is Starcraft 2 good enough to override the vast majority of the complaining fans dislike for this type of DRM? From what I hear and from Blizzards track record, the answer yes, do I hate them for buying it because their love for the game overrides their hatred for that type of DRM? No, but do I think that they are hypocrites when it comes to this type of DRM? Yes and that won't change.

@Cenerune but these arent MMOs, they're single player experiences. Titles that have no online connectivity-based game features beside DRM. Titles that if they were say published by another publisher would be able to be played during anytime. This personally doesn't effect me since I'm not really an Ubisoft fan save the Rayman series, but don't undercut your own rights as a consumer. This is a vile business practice, that has shown in the past to fail, and has failed now. This anti-piracy really only angers the people already loyal to Ubisoft, and makes video game purchases an even more infuriating experience. Personally I'm a bit peeved that loyality is rewarded with corporate abuse. Its a big deal!

It's just a server transfer, some of you need to stop reading more than there is to it. It's annoying, yes (hell i've been playing Heroes 6 this past week), but depending on how quickly they handle this, it's not really different than say, server maintenance in a mmo. At least they had the decency to announce it before it happens.

So basically if you still play an older game that still uses this stupid DRM, you're not allowed to play until they get their act together. A game you legitimately purchased. But if you're playing one of their newer games. Games they are still trying to make money on, your ok. Am I the only one that sees a problem with this? Older games.... We've made our money, screw'em... Oh but don't mess with the new games, we're still earning those. This is exactly why I refuse to buy ubisoft games. If I've legitimately purchased a game, I will not be dictated to when I can and can't play them. And to top it off. Not only did they subject their customers to this awful DRM scheme. They didn't even have the courtesy to run it themselves to ensure that crap like this couldn't happen. Way to go Ubi. Always ready to please I see. Why don't you give it up already. It doesn't matter what you say in your "press releases". You've already proven over and over and over again that your DRM is an epic fail. Just give it up. Get rid of it. Update your games to play offline. And start working on the reconciliation process to the customers you've screwed over the last several years.

Funny, I thought you had to do something wrong to be banned.

DRM is EVIL! I refuse to buy these games with extreme DRM.

and that is what makes a pirate free.

Pay to get denied access to a game, or pirate for hassle free uninhibited access... Hm, decisions decisions.

@Valen_Ca You stated that you are well aware of what you're talking still you look like you don't have any idea... Do you actually know how great Blizzard games are and how highly anticipated and awaited are? People will end up buying them because they are great... Not saying Ubisoft games aren't...even with DRM people still buy those games... Lot's of people buy AC games on PC... Do you think they are hypocrites because of complaining? Dude WTF did you smoke? The fact that people complain less when it comes to Blizzard it's because of their history... Every game they released was good and none failed... They release one in a few years...not talking about WOW... Next time be more informed...

@Valen_Ca Ubisoft pretty much craps all over their (PC using) customers and then blames them for smelling like ****. Blizzard dresses their DRM up all pretty-like. Sure, they take control away from the user, but they also try to provide a service. Which is more than enough for some people. Not for me, but I was on the fence about Diablo 3, anyway. Diablo 3 sounds semi-MMO to me. Which will make piracy more difficult than just downloading a game and swapping out a few files. We'll see after it's released, I suppose.

ubisoft have just created more pirates with this drm, nice one you morons

@SeriousSean I am actually very well aware of the uproar it caused, but given the sales success of Starcraft 2 I would hardly say that fans are punishing Blizzard over the issue and I am willing to bet that most of the people complaining about Diablo 3 will end up buying it anyways, where as the people that complained about the Ubisoft games didn't eventually buy them.

Yes the wonders of DRM protection. Punish those who purchased the games while those who pirate it continue to be able to play without interuption.

Oh Might and Magic, 26 years and this is how it ends?

Ubisoft recommends pirate cracking as useful and in fact only remedy.

Hmm, looks like I may have to go back to boycotting Ubisoft again. I HATE it when they pull this shyte. Meh, maybe I will, maybe I won't.

Yikes. I think it's safe to say no more Ubisoft products of any kind for me.

It's too easy to throw out a negative comment about DRM, too many trolls will do it anyways. However, I do feel that companies should be able to monitor their creations. It's not that long of a period, and things should be back to normal soon.

Wow this make me think twice the next time before I buy a game from Ubisoft.