14 DAY TRIAL // Ubisoft is turning what was supposed to be the great return of its Driver series into something extremely tedious, as the French company confirmed that the PC version of Driver: San Francisco will have its infamous digital rights management (DRM) program that requires players to have an always-on Internet connection if they want to actually play it.
Ubisoft has quite a lot of popular franchises, including Assassin's Creed or Prince of Persia, and even the Driver series, but the company wants to do everything it can in order to prevent piracy, even if it means effectively punishing or imposing harsh limitations on players who actually buy its games legally and want to enjoy them.
After a massive scandal with the release of Assassin's Creed II, which was launched with a restrictive DRM on the PC that required an always-on Internet connection so that players could enjoy the title, it seems that Ubisoft has yet to learn its lesson, and confirmed that Driver: San Francisco will also have such an anti-piracy system.
The protection of the new Driver game will require a permanent Internet connection, according to the game's official Twitter account, which released a rather peculiar statement after this news, saying that PC gamers should at least be thankful because their version is being released at the same time as the console ones.
"Bear in mind though that the PC version of DRVSF is released simultaneously to consoles," the Twitter account said after being asked if Ubisoft still doesn't care for PC gamers.
Ubisoft recently delayed two eagerly expected titles at the last moment, Call of Juarez: The Cartel and From Dust for the PC, while the console versions were released without any sort of problem.
Several other things were revealed, including how Driver: San Francisco will work on consoles, like the PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360, where the game has a special Uplay Passport system that allows owners access to the multiplayer mode and unlocks several bonus items via a single-use code that's meant to stop players from buying used copies.
While console owners can enjoy the new Driver game without an Internet connection, they do need to complete a one-time check and enter the code on the uPlay Passport in order to enjoy the multiplayer and extra things.
As you can see, while Ubisoft is forcing some harsh limitations on everyone who wants to enjoy Driver: San Francisco, PC owners are once again treated with the worst things thanks to the DRM system.