14 DAY TRIAL // Ubisoft is already in quite a bit of hot water with PC gamers and the French publisher seems unable or unwilling to actually patch things up. And a recent announcement shows that the future might see the rift between the two parties increase, as the launch date for Splinter Cell: Conviction for the PC is not two full weeks after that of the Xbox 360 version of the game, set to come on April 13 worldwide.
But Ubisoft was quick to say there was no actual link between the recently deployed Digital Rights Management system and the delay for PC Splinter Cell. A spokesperson from the publisher told Eurogamer that “The reason that has been given for the delay is that the extra time was needed to polish and debug the game. The slip has not been linked to the DRM.”
The big problem is that Ubisoft does not understand the mindset of the PC gamer. A heavy handed DRM scheme, which requires the computer to be connected to the Internet for the whole time a player enjoys something like Silent Hunter 5 or Assassin's Creed II, could be tolerated as long as it means that PC gamers receive the exact same treatment like those who enjoy Ubisoft titles on home gaming consoles.
But with games still launching on the PC well after that of the console version, despite the new DRM, the average player will probably become disillusioned with both the company, which sells them the game and with the platform on which they wanted to play the title in question.
It would be nice to see Ubisoft understand that and actually throw in something extra for those who will play Splinter Cell: Conviction on the PC to make it worth the wait. Of course, the publisher also has the option of simply abandoning the PC as a platform.