AfterDawn: News

Ubisoft servers go down, legitimate gamers cannot play their games

Over the past couple of weeks, we have been reporting on the ongoing debacle that is Ubisoft's "always connected" DRM scheme, now available on at least five PC games.

The publisher first made headlines when it announced the DRM which made it so gamers must be always connected to the Internet, or not be able to play the game. If you are ever disconnected from the Internet, you are forced back to the main menu, losing any progress you made between save points.



Embarrassingly for the company, Silent Hunter 5: Battle of the Atlantic was cracked on the first day, with pirates enjoying the game, offline, and with the DRM removed.

In another embarrassment for the company today, it has been reported that legitimate (as in, they purchased the game) Assassin's Creed II and Silent Hunter 5 gamers were unable to play this weekend, as Ubisoft's servers went down, meaning the DRM could not connect.

"Due to exceptional demand, we are currently experiencing difficulties with the Online Service Platform. This does not affect customers who are currently playing, but customers attempting to start a game may experience difficulty in accessing our servers. We are currently working to resolve this issue and apologize for any inconvenience," says Ubisoft.

So just to reiterate, pirates were enjoying their Ubisoft titles this weekend, while those that paid money to buy the games could not. Well done Ubisoft, you are doing your best to curb piracy.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 8 Mar 2010 12:35

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• 25 comments

• Mysttic

  According to new sources on IGN.com Ubisoft has already fixed the issue and are trying to claim that a minimal was affected and they don't seem to be clear if it was result of an attack, or the result of too many consumers.
  
  How about it was the result of an idiotic idea to use DRM in this form to begin with.

  8.3.2010 12:42 #1

• keemosavy

  Great article!!! Another point for DRM - promoting piracy. Maybe game makers, movie companies, and music companies should read up on their economies of scale. If the game was not expensive then people would buy because hacking would be a waste of time. Maybe a DRM free MP3 for $.50

  8.3.2010 13:08 #2

• BigDK

  People that signed up for this DRM are getting what they deserve.
  I'm amazed and saddened at just what people take from these companies, the fact that the only people playing were the people that cracked the game shows just how crap these systems are.

  8.3.2010 13:11 #3

• hikaricor

  Originally posted by BigDK: People that signed up for this DRM are getting what they deserve.
  I'm amazed and saddened at just what people take from these companies, the fact that the only people playing were the people that cracked the game shows just how crap these systems are.You should probably keep in mind that the average consumer doesn't realize what they're bought until they get it home and out of the plastic. If they bothered reading the box (which I hope atleast displays a warning about the product) or did any research this wouldn't be an issue, but people are morons so it generally is the case.

  8.3.2010 13:16 #4

• gnovak1

  Hail to Ubisoft who has finally proven what a rotten system this is. They have now made their paying customers suffer.
  
  They are actually proving to the public and to themselves that DRM is a flawed system.
  
  Thanks for proving all of us right Ubisoft.

  8.3.2010 14:02 #5

• beanos66

  the problem is the execs who came up with the idea won't learn, they will continue to put drm in their games and the drm will continue to affect legit gamers and not bother the pirates.
  
  and when the drm salesman come walking in with a "new and improved" version the execs will bend over their desks and take it up the arse

  8.3.2010 14:53 #6

• ivymike

  I'm sure we all here seen this coming. Unfortunately NOT Ubisoft.

  8.3.2010 15:27 #7

• bam431

  It's almost like they want you to pirate the game.

  8.3.2010 15:28 #8

• SuckRaven

  If games cost a reasonable amount of money, there would be no need to include DRM, because most people would actually buy the game if it was worth it to them. Too bad money-grubbing companies want to have their cake and eat it too. 1) They want to charge exorbitant prices for games that are re-hashes of old titles, or they are on their watered-down pentology or heptology etc., and 2) they want also, simultaneously to protect their crap with failDRM, that is cracked by the time the game is released. They do this all while their PR dept spins some crap about being cusomer-friendly, and that it's all about the gamer blah blah blah. Any time user rights are trampled on, user intelligence insulted, and blanket statements made about all people being thieving scum, this kind of poetic justice will be served up for others to see. I am just waiting for the (in my opinion) completely justified backlash from people who actually bought the game, but now are kicking themselves for going against their better judgment, and not just downloading it. I bet they don't make the same choice again in the future when their buddies are at home enjoying their free DRM-less game, while the poor saps who feel morally superior for "supporting the developer" will be sitting around wondering if they should just fire up the ol' BitTorrent client. See what we are supporting (in some cases)when we actually buy games? Good example of company biting the hand that feeds it. F U Ubisoft.

  8.3.2010 17:14 #9

• bteamfox

  What happens in a couple of years time when Ubisoft decide to close the server supporting the game you bought! I know a lot of people who buy games and go back and play them, even after years. Sad but true!
  
  Ubisoft, admit this is a poor idea and release a patch and stop using this rubbish. BTW I have stopped buying any UBIsoft game. So way to go.

  8.3.2010 17:20 #10

• ntense69

  now thats funny hahaha ubisoft 0 pirates 1

  8.3.2010 17:23 #11

• WierdName

  Originally posted by bteamfox: What happens in a couple of years time when Ubisoft decide to close the server supporting the game you bought! I know a lot of people who buy games and go back and play them, even after years. Sad but true!
  
  Ubisoft, admit this is a poor idea and release a patch and stop using this rubbish. BTW I have stopped buying any UBIsoft game. So way to go.I still occasionally play frickin PS1 games! Yes they aren't computer, but the point that oldschool is sometimes fun is noted here. I believe they said a patch could be issued to remove the DRM when they take the servers down. If they (now likely) go under though, they aren't likely to gracefully discontinue service but just pull the plug. Thus leaving DRM in games, warranties nullified, no available software for private servers, etc. They are going to be more concerned with squeezing out the company as much as possible into the execs' pockets before hitting the bankruptcy button.

  8.3.2010 18:08 #12

• KillerBug

  Originally posted by SuckRaven: If games cost a reasonable amount of money, there would be no need to include DRM, because most people would actually buy the game if it was worth it to them.The story is about people who bought the game...so many of them that they crashed the servers! Clearly, they are having no troubles selling their games at the current price.
  
  Quote:You should probably keep in mind that the average consumer doesn't realize what they're bought until they get it home and out of the plastic. If they bothered reading the box (which I hope atleast displays a warning about the product) or did any research this wouldn't be an issue, but people are morons so it generally is the case.
  Are you sure it has a warning? Most new DRM methods do not have a warning, or will have sometihg that does not seem like a warning. For example, they will put it with the system requirements..."Must have internet connection to connect to usbisoft servers"...and the customer thinks, "Of course, I have an internet connection, so I can play online with this game"...instead, it is a single-player only game, and they can't play it at all because ubisoft overloaded their servers.

  9.3.2010 00:12 #13

• windsong

  It really sucks that Thief 4 is being made by Ubisoft. No doubt you will have to be online at all times (Thief multiplayer? FAIL). And no doubt that a major ddos attack will make quick work of Ubisoft's pathetic servers. What a laughing stock they are.

  9.3.2010 02:19 #14

• KillerBug

  It was not even a DOS attack. Ubisoft intentionaly set these games to connect to their servers...then they sold so many copies that the servers got overloaded...they DOS'd themselves!
  

  [DFI M2RS] [Athlon 9950] [ATI 3870HD] [Hauppauge WinTV-HVR-1600] [6GB Corsair DDR2] [4x Seagate ST31500341AS + 3ware 9690SA = 4.5TB RAID5] [2x Seagate 750GB + 2x Seagate 500GB + Adaptec 1430SA = 750GB RAID1 + 500GB RAID1] [Intel Gigabit NIC (PCI)] [LG 20X Lightscribe DVDR] [Coolmax 1200w Power Supply] [Logitech G15(first edition)] [Logitech G5(Second Edition)] [320GB Hitachi Boot] [320GB Hitachi Temp/Swap] [Modified and overgrown 4U Rackmount case] [22" & 24" screens mounted overhead] [Perfect Chair 085] [Logitech 5.1 Audio] [Windows 7 RC1]

  9.3.2010 03:24 #15

• av_verbal

  the game you purchase only works until the decide to turn off the servers.
  
  tbh dont purchase it download the one that will be yours to install forever not just the time span that ubisoft decide before you are forced to "upgrade" to the newer better version!
  
  "anyway who would want to play old games, are you a dinosaur or sommit, you living in the dark ages" says the sales & marketing rep determined to get you to hand over your cash

  9.3.2010 07:10 #16

• Nat4u

  These companies just dont get it, Piracy will live on forever and any types of drm will be cracked, so why do software companies still try.
  RESISTANCE IS FUTILE

  9.3.2010 08:31 #17

• Josipher

  Install crippling DRM in attempt to "curb" piracy resulting in more pirating to disable the crippling DRM and furthermore taking into account the result of their servers crashing was that even MORE people turn to piracy after theyve seen that money just isnt worth the headache
  
  i have a question for ubisoft:
  Dont You Just L-O-V-E irony? :P:P:P

  9.3.2010 11:20 #18

• Irocz005

  Lower the price on games and then more people will actually buy them. Take out DRM and more people will actually buy them.

  11.3.2010 07:50 #19

• francs

  We, as consumers, must learn to VOTE with our dollars. If we're willing to continue voting for DRM-loaded games and music, computers that force proprietary standards down our throats, and cheap, slave-labor-driven imported goods, then we deserve what we get. It CAN be stopped, by voting for the good guys who sell open products unencumbered by all this dross, and refusing to pay our money to DRM proponents.
  
  It hurts to think about how much money it takes to produce these silly protection schemes, and then have to increase server-power to run them. No wonder the prices of games go up all the time. It's us, the consumers, who are to blame, because it's us who are paying them to do it!

  11.3.2010 09:02 #20

• ST2006

  Is this really a surprise?? EVERYONE said this would happen !!!!

  11.3.2010 12:04 #21

• crowy

  If man can create it,man can uncreate it.

  11.3.2010 18:56 #22

• Tarsellis

  Well, DUH!!! I said this would happen, I refused to give them money ever in the future because of this, and wow, what kind of strange twilight zone world must I live in, I was right. They give you $#!tty drm like this, then get the cracked version, have fun, and tell them to go to he11.

  13.3.2010 14:14 #23

• Fuck Ubisoft (unverified)

  Wow, I baught the game for like 40 pounds, and now it's not working, all they say is SORRY! WHAT THE edited by ddp! DO THEY ACTUALLY THINK SORRY IS ENOUGH, LMFAO, Ubisoft are retarded, first the internet and now this.

  21.11.2010 14:41 #24

• bhetrick

  Almost as retarded as people who bring up threads that are over 8 months old.
  

  21.11.2010 15:29 #25