Ubisoft Plans Mandatory Online Authentication

Ubisoft has announced it's replacing its StarForce digital rights management application for a newer method. Ubisoft's new PC DRM solution will feature no CD checks or installation limits and pack support for 'cloud' online saved game storage but will require players be online to authenticate before playing. Players will be required to login to their Ubi.com account to authenticate each and every time they wish to play--and there will be no support for offline play at all. The DRM platform will debut with the closed beta test of Blue Byte city-building strategy The Settlers 7. While details are currently unclear, it seems the platform will feature in all feature Ubisoft PC releases - though apparently not all will support cloud saves.

One very interesting benefit of this new account management system is how it handles save games. Your saves will be stored remotely on Ubi servers, allowing access to your game saves on any machine. Steam offers a similar service for select games, but this will be available for the majority of Ubisoft's PC titles.

So what's the downside? Since authentication is now handled through your Ubi.com account, you'll always need to connect to your Ubi.com account to authenticate before playing. While it's hard to conceive of PC gamers being stranded without an Internet connection, those situations do come up, particularly when traveling. We asked about the potential backlash to this authentication platform requiring an Internet connection. "We think most people are going to be fine with it. Most people are always connected to an Internet connection," Wilkinson replied.