14 DAY TRIAL // Yesterday, we talked about the new authentication and validation measures Ubisoft plans to introduce to its future titles, starting with the beta stage for Settlers 7, which is set to arrive soon.
The publisher plans to remove all disk checks and validation on installation while introducing the need to link all Ubisoft titles to an official account with the site of the company while also introducing a feature that takes saves from the local computer and stores them into a Ubisoft cloud computing system.
Some gamers voiced concern related to the need for Internet access to be on when a game is launched and when the player is interested in saving their progress. But it seems that an Internet connection will be required for the whole amount of time a gamer plans to enjoy the next Splinter Cell or another Assassin's Creed.
Ubisoft is saying that “The platform requires a permanent Internet connection. We know this choice is controversial but we feel is justified by the gameplay advantages offered by the system and because most PCs are already connected to the Internet. This platform also offers protection against piracy, an important business element for Ubisoft and for the PC market in general as piracy has an important impact on this market.”
The company's claims initially appear correct and their system might just eliminate piracy, if implemented correctly. The problem is that future titles will have a smaller customer base, as some will avoid them because of the new system and that the technical side will be challenging for Ubisoft, as a huge number of computers will be constantly pinging its servers to determine if they still have a connection and to deliver save games. The test run linked to the Settlers 7 beta will probably give gamers an early look into how the new system will be working.