AfterDawn: News

Ubisoft apologizes to users affected by 'always on' DRM

Ubisoft has "apologized" for downtime experienced by legitimate owners of their games that include "always on" DRM by offering free games to those affected.

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 (or Ubi's servers go down), you are forced back to the main menu, losing any progress you made between save points.



Hackers took down Ubisoft's servers just a few days after the games became available, by using a DDoS attack, making it so legitimate players could not play their games, while pirates could.

Ubi is now apologizing by giving free games to select users who were still having issues after the servers went back up. Some were offered a full free game, such as Prince of Persia, while others were given free DLC that's normally included in premium editions.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 26 Mar 2010 12:28

• Previous article

• Spotify headed to U.S. this summer

• Next article

• Xbox 360 USB Memory Support coming April 6th

• 18 comments

• gnovak1

  So people are still having problems even when the server came back up?
  
  This is Karma. Ubisoft is being punished for screwing their customers.

  26.3.2010 13:12 #1

• ukhn99 (unverified)

  You know what I don't like about this new always connected DRM, if Ubisoft ever goes out of business than all their games just become paper weight.

  26.3.2010 14:49 #2

• ccwdude

  Well, as long as they apologized then everything is good. Screw U-Bi

  26.3.2010 15:12 #3

• NHS2008

  It's a shame that a always A-lister games producing company like UBISOFT would resort to such activities. It's gonnna only turn even the actual leglimate game buyers into pirates!!
  

  
  
  PlayStation(R)2SlimV12RIPPER4.Dead!||PlayStation(R)2 Slim v16+DMS4 Toxic.Working fine
  http://www.myspace.com/nhsuniverse

  26.3.2010 15:50 #4

• gldoorii

  Another win for pirates.

  26.3.2010 15:55 #5

• keith1993

  Well you've already lost my money Ubi I saw all this hassle and simply borrowed it off a mate for PS3. I'd of liked to play it on PC but I can't because your frankly confusing system of giving people a motive to pirate a game has p***ed me off. And no it hasn't remotely slowed piracy it's easier to 'steal' then a baby's candy. Give it a couple of months and they'll blame the slow sales on all the pirates.
  

  
  
  I could put something funny here but I cant be arsed. Now GO AWAY!

  26.3.2010 16:24 #6

• sammorris

  Is there proof it was a DoS from pirates? Seems like a handy excuse to me :P
  

  
  
  Afterdawn Addict // Silent PC enthusiast // PC Build advisor // LANGamer Alias:Ratmanscoop
  http://www.scan.co.uk http://www.ebuyer.com http://www.newegg.com http://www.ncixus.com
  My systems: http://my.afterdawn.com/sammorris/blog_entry.cfm/2255 - Last updated 13Feb10

  26.3.2010 17:59 #7

• ZippyDSM

  Lousy hippcite, how many millions did they waste giving POP away???
  
  (yes thats sarcasm)
  

  Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy!
  Ah modern gaming its like modern film only the watering down of fiction and characters is replaced with shallow and watered down mechanics, gimmicks and shiny-er "people".
  http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/

  26.3.2010 18:10 #8

• blueboy09

  When your customers complain about a "screw up" that you made, what do you do? You fix it. Unfortunately, it seems that they're offering candy to a baby by giving those customers free games. Just how guillable are Ubisoft's customer's are? Be smart, and tell Ubi the hell off, otherwise they'll keep shafting you in the ass expecting you to take their crap!!
  

  Life is about walking on thin ice, if you make too much drama, youll crack under pressure. - BLUEBOY

  26.3.2010 22:48 #9

• KillerBug

  "You know what I don't like about this new always connected DRM, if Ubisoft ever goes out of business than all their games just become paper weight."
  
  Only if Ubisoft goes out of business within 1 day of release...always on DRM guarantees a crack release within 1 day! (assuming it isn't cracked a week before release).
  
  "Is there proof it was a DoS from pirates? Seems like a handy excuse to me :P"
  
  I have not seen any proof that it was pirates. Technicaly a DoS attack can be anything that forces many users from many areas to connect to a single server without their consent...so it was certainly a DoS attack, as the users did not consent to the connection.

  27.3.2010 00:35 #10

• scorpNZ

  Originally posted by ukhn99: You know what I don't like about this new always connected DRM, if Ubisoft ever goes out of business than all their games just become paper weight. They would release an update that unlocks the always on DRM so you can continue playing
  

  27.3.2010 13:04 #11

• cdxanti

  This pretty much makes a on the go gaming laptop useless. Their isn't internet everywhere ubi and im sure a dial-up connection would not work. I wouldn't be surprised if the servers were attacked again. This is just stupid.
  

  27.3.2010 16:42 #12

• Frogfart

  Stuff your apology up your hole!

  27.3.2010 19:58 #13

• TBandit

  Originally posted by NHS2008: It's a shame that a always A-lister games producing company like UBISOFT would resort to such activities. It's gonnna only turn even the actual leglimate game buyers into pirates!! I think since they make A-games they want more efficient sales with them.
  

  tcg

  28.3.2010 20:49 #14

• KillerBug

  I think they are just trying to kill of PC gaming...PS3 and 360 games may have DRM...but not like this!

  30.3.2010 10:19 #15

• Emudude1963

  I have yet to play a PS3 or 360 Game that forced me to be on-line before I could actually Play the game. I don't like having my Gaming machine online due to Hackers violating the open ports created by DRM. I have 1 machine on-line for internet access and I never use it for gaming. That said, I can't stand for games to force my Gaming Computer ON-LINE. I Buy my Games due to wanting the Hard Copy DVD/CD that way I have something physical to show for it. I Don't mind having to have the Actual CD/DVD in the Drive to play the Game. Don't Punish me because my Computer is Off-Line and I want to play the game.

  2.4.2010 00:20 #16

• Emudude1963

  Also forgot to mention the really Annoying "You can only install it 3 times" lock out code on the CD/DVDs like SPORE. I Paid $89.99 for the Universe Edition of Spore, and I can only install it 3 times before I have to Pay for the game again to install it for 3 more times? What kind of Sick Joke is that. I Really hate these Idiotic Paranoid Computer Companies that like to Torture their customers.

  2.4.2010 00:24 #17

• Jemborg

  Originally posted by ZippyDSM: Lousy hippcite, how many millions did they waste giving POP away???
  
  (yes thats sarcasm) Na Zip, sarcasm would be something like, "Jeez Ubisoft, you sure saved a lot of money there didn't you?"
  
  But I expect they are looking at the long haul.
  

  Its a lot easier being righteous than right.
  
  
  

  2.4.2010 10:41 #18