User:EdenCrow/SteamDRM
This is a clean port by flibit of the SteamDRM source to a wiki format. (With apologies to everyone who worked on the revisions before this)
This is pretty much a cut and dry port, with no features related to the actual wiki. That'll be easy with the full source ported, though.
Account-based DRM
DRM associated with accounts is weaker than most but still present, requiring online activation via CD key to access online services such as multiplayer and profile stats. These games require you to activate the game through their servers and use their accounts to activate the game, and many require these accounts to access the game. For single-player games, account-based DRM often does not affect the game to any real degree, as you can play them with an offline profile without activation. Because of this, many consider single-player account-based DRM to not be DRM at all because it does not require any contact beyond having the packages installed; no Internet connection is required. Games falling into this “single-player only” category will be marked as such.
EA Accounts
EA Accounts exist for two purposes:
To activate and run the game. This requires a constant Internet connection, even in single-player modes. The benefit to this, however, is that DLC, if it exists, is more easily managed than below.
To access online features, including DLC. In this case, the EA account is not required to access single-player (in some cases, it may be required to activate the game). For DLC, however, the game will require an account either way.
This list will be categorized as such, as well as games that use EA Classic accounts. Single-player games in the latter category will be specially marked, either as an option or exclusively single-player.
Constant Connection Required
| Name | Store Page | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Command & Conquer 4 | Link | |
| Darkspore | Link | Technically structured like an MMO despite having single-player. |
Activation, Online Services, DLC
| Name | Store Page | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Alice: Madness Returns | Link | |
| Battlefield: Bad Company 2 | Link | Also includes Vietnam |
| Burnout Paradise: The Ultimate Box | Link | |
| Command & Conquer 3 | Link | Also includes Kane's Wrath |
| Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 | Link | |
| Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3 - Uprising | Link | |
| Dead Space 2 | Link | |
| Dragon Age: Origins | Link | Also includes Awakening. Single-player only. |
| Dragon Age 2 (Store page unavailable) | Link | Single-player only |
| Mass Effect 2 | Link | Single-player only |
| FIFA Manager 09 | Link | |
| FIFA Manager 10 | Link | |
| FIFA Manager 11 | Link | |
| Gatling Gears | Link | 5 activation limit per 24 hours |
| Medal of Honor | Link | |
| Medal of Honor: Airborne | Link | |
| Mirror's Edge | Link | Single-player only |
| Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit | Link | |
| Need For Speed: Shift | Link | |
| Need For Speed: Undercover | Link | |
| Shift 2 Unleashed | Link | |
| The Sims 3 | Link | Includes all expansions (Most recent: Showtime) |
| SPORE | Link | Also includes Creepy & Cute + Galactic Adventures. Single-player only. |
| Warp | Link |
EA Classic Account
| Name | Store Page | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Battlefield 2 | Link |
Gamespy
Gamespy is not necessarily a DRM scheme; it is more of a multiplayer service (matchmaking, servers, etc.). However, since multiplayer is dependent on a third-party service for these games, we will be listing them here.
| Name | Store Page | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Borderlands | Link | |
| Crysis | Link | |
| Crysis: Warhead | Link | |
| F.E.A.R.2: Project Origin | Link | |
| FlatOut 2 | Link | |
| Hunted: The Demon's Forge | Link | |
| Legendary | Link | |
| Medieval II: Total War | Link | |
| The Scourge Project: Episodes 1 and 2 | Link | |
| Sid Meier's Civilization® 4 | Link | Includes whole Civ4 series |
| Spellforce – Platinum Edition | Link | |
| Star Wars: Battlefront II | Link | |
| Titan Quest | Link | Includes Immortal Throne |
| Unreal Tournament 3 Black | Link | |
| Warhammer® 40,000: Dawn of War® - Gold Edition | Link | Includes Dark Crusade and Soulstorm |
Games for Windows Live
There are two kinds of GFWL activation:
Current method: Server-Side Activation, or SSA. This binds the CD key permanently to your GFWL account, similarly to Steam. Thanks to this feature, the games do not carry activation limits! On top of this, a new GFWL feature has been added: Zero Day Piracy Protection (or ZDPP). This is their attempt to prevent pre-release copies from being played, and it can only be applied to SSA games.
Legacy method: A simple CD key check. This still requires an Internet connection, but it does not tie the key to your account. This has an activation limit between 10-20 (usually 15), similar to the usual Microsoft products (such as Office). If you hit the limit, contact Microsoft support. With proper evidence they will give you a new key, but you are only allowed one more key. After that, you will need to buy the game again.
It should also be noted that GFWL is not supported worldwide. In the event that you bind an SSA key to an account that is not in a supported region, you will lose the key (and, consequently, access to the game).
SSA Titled (ZDPP specially marked)
| Name | Store Page | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ace Combat Assault Horizon - Enhanced Edition | Link | |
| Age of Empires Online | Link | |
| Batman: Arkham City | Link | ZDPP Title |
| Blacklight: Tango Down | Link | |
| Bulletstorm | Link | ZDPP Title. An online profile is required to run, but the game can be played offline. |
| Colin McRae DiRT 2 | Link | |
| Dark Souls: Prepare To Die Edition | Link | Likely an SSA Title |
| Dead Rising 2 | Link | ZDPP Title |
| Dead Rising 2: Off the Record | Link | ZDPP Title |
| DiRT 3 | Link | Likely an SSA Title |
| F1 2010 | Link | |
| F1 2011 | Link | Likely an SSA Title |
| Fable III | Link | |
| Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet | Link | Likely an SSA Title |
| Iron Brigade | Link | Likely an SSA Title |
| Lost Planet 2 | Link | ZDPP Title |
| Microsoft Flight | Link | |
| Mortal Kombat Kollection | Link | Likely an SSA Title |
| Operation Flashpoint: Red River | Link | Likely an SSA Title |
| Resident Evil: Operation Raccoon City | Link | |
| Section 8 | Link | |
| Section 8: Prejudice | Link | |
| Street Fighter X Tekken | Link | |
| Super Street Fighter IV Arcade Edition | Link | |
| Toy Soldiers | Link | Likely an SSA Title. Can choose between GFWL and Steamworks. |
| Virtua Tennis 4 | Link |
Legacy Titles
| Name | Store Page | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Batman: Arkham Asylum | Link | Single-player only |
| Battlestations Pacific | Link | |
| Bioshock 2 | Link | |
| The Club | Link | |
| Fallout 3 | Link | Includes All Five DLC Packs. Single-player only, can be completely ignored (no profile/activation needed). |
| Flatout: Ultimate Carnage | Link | |
| FUEL | Link | |
| Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition | Link | |
| Grand Theft Auto 4 | Link | Includes Episodes |
| Warhammer 40K: Dawn of War 2 | Link | Includes Chaos Rising |
| Juiced 2: Hot Import Nights | Link | |
| Kane & Lynch: Dead Men | Link | |
| Lost Planet: Colonies Edition | Link | |
| Quantum of Solace | Link | |
| Red Faction Guerrilla | Link | |
| Resident Evil 5 | Link | |
| Star Wars: Clone Wars: Republic Heroes | Link | |
| Stormrise | Link | |
| Street Fighter 4 | Link | |
| Universe at War: Earth Assault | Link | |
| Vancouver 2010 | Link |
Kalypso Launcher
| Name | Store Page | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Tycoon 2 | Link | |
| Anna | Link | |
| Disciples III - Resurrection | Link | |
| DUNGEONS - Steam Special Edition | Link | |
| The First Templar - Steam Special Edition | Link | |
| Patrician 4 - Steam Special Edition | Link | |
| Tropico 4: Steam Special Edition | Link |
Rockstar Social Club
| Name | Store Page | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition | Link | |
| Grand Theft Auto IV | Link | |
| Grand Theft Auto IV: Episodes from Liberty City | Link | |
| L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition | Link | Used for online/community features only. |
| Max Payne 3 | Link |
Stardock Account
| Name | Store Page | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Demigod | Link | |
| Fallen Enchantress | Link | |
| Galactic Civilizations II: Ultimate Edition | Link | |
| The Political Machine 2012 | Link | |
| Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion | Link | |
| Sins of a Solar Empire: Trinity | Link |
Ubisoft DRM
Unless otherwise noted, you should be able to access an offline mode after registering and updating the game. Without updating, the game may require a constant connection at all times.
Some of these games may have trouble with the UPlay launcher. Check here to make sure your game is updating properly.
| Name | Store Page | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Anno 2070 | Link | |
| Assassin's Creed 2 | Link | |
| Assassin's Creed Brotherhood | Link | Offline mode available without registering/updating the game. Use parameter -playoffline. |
| Assassin's Creed Revelations | Link | |
| Assassin's Creed 3 | Link | |
| Driver San Francisco | Link | |
| Far Cry 3 | Link | |
| From Dust | Link | |
| Might & Magic Heroes VI | Link | Required for activation and online features. |
| Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands | Link | |
| The Settlers 7 | Link | Connection required at ALL times. |
| Silent Hunter 5 | Link | |
| Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Future Soldier™ | Link | |
| Tom Clancy's H.A.W.X. 2 | Link | Connection required at ALL times. |
| Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Conviction | Link |
Other Account-based DRM
| Name | Store Page | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Airline Tycoon 2 | Link | Account and log-in required to play (single-player included). |
| APOX | Link | Proprietary server connection. There is no authentication, but a constant Internet connection is required for anything other than campaign, skirmish and tutorial. |
| AudioSurf | Link | Account required for leaderboard feature |
| Company of Heroes | Link | Relic Online. CD key activation required, log-in required to play. Offline workaround found here. Transitioning to Steamworks on April 8. |
| Company of Heroes: Opposing Fronts | Link | Relic Online. CD key activation required, log-in required to play. Offline workaround found here. Transitioning to Steamworks on April 8. |
| Company of Heroes: Tales of Valor | Link | Relic Online. CD key activation required, log-in required to play. Offline workaround found here. Transitioning to Steamworks on April 8. |
| Crysis 2 (Store page unavailable) | Link | Online play requires a MyCrysis account |
| Crysis 2 - Maximum Edition | Link | Online play requires a MyCrysis account |
| Delta Force: Xtreme 2 | Link | Must create an account and "activate"; through the game to play. |
| Frozen Synapse | Link | Must create an account and "activate" through the game for online features. |
| Metal Drift | Link | Must create an account to play |
| Plain Sight | Link | Activation through Beatnik servers, requires log-in to play |
| Saints Row: The Third | Link | THQ account required for community features |
| Trackmania Nations Forever | Link | Trackmania account required for online features |
| Trackmania United Forever | Link | Trackmania account required for online features |
| Turba | Link | Account required for leaderboards |
| Wings of Prey | Link | Requires a YuPlay account for multiplayer |
// TODO: All the stuff below, plus the stuff not added at all yet.
Hardware Based
SecuROM
Age of Booty - Unlimited Activations
Batman: Arkham Asylum - Non-GotY Edition: 4 activations per month. A revoke tool is available in your Steam Tools section. GotY Edition: 4 machine limit. Revoke using /revoke parameter.
Batman: Arkham City - 5 machine limit, 10 activations per machine.
Bioshock 2 - Unlimited activations
Blood Bowl: Dark Elves Edition - 5 machine limit
Blood Bowl: Legendary Edition - 5 machine limit
Borderlands DLC Pack - Used for 2/4 DLC packs (shown below)
Borderlands: Game of the Year - Used for 2/4 DLC packs (shown below)
Borderlands: The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned - 5 machine limit
Borderlands: Mad Moxxie's Underdome Riot - 5 machine limit
Cities XL 2011 - 5 machine limit
Colin McRae Dirt 2 - Used for CD check only
Crysis - 50 machine limit
Crysis Warhead - 5 machine limit
Dark Void Zero - 5 machine limit
Dirt 3 - Activation limit unknown
Fable III - 5 activations per month
F.E.A.R. 1 Complete - Only multiplayer is active. To avoid this, download the updated multiplayer here
Flock - Unlimited activations
Fuel - Unlimited activations
Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition - Used in GTA IV and its expansions as noted below
Grand Theft Auto IV - Unlimited activations
Grand Theft Auto IV: Episodes from Liberty City - 15 machine limit
Major League Baseball 2K9 - Used for CD check only
Mass Effect - Found on the DLC installers only, SecureROM removable post-installation. 3 machine limit.
Medal of Honor - Single Player portion only, 5 machine limit, 1 activation added every 60 days
Neopets Puzzle Adventure - 5 machine limit
The Sims Medieval - 5 machine limit using new Content Protection by Sony DADC Australia
Test Drive Unlimited - 4 machine limit
StarForce
DCS A-10C Warthog - 10 machine limit. After 10 activations, 1 more is generated in a month.
Wargame: European Escalation - 5 machine limit
ACTControl
Confrontation - 5 machine limit
Disciplines III - Reincarnation - 5 machine limit
Game of Thrones - 5 machine limit
Of Orcs and Men - 10 machine limit
Postal 3 - Machine limit unknown
The Testament of Sherlock Holmes - 5 machine limit
TAGES
Dawn of Discovery - Activation limit removed in patch
Anno 1404/Dawn of Discovery: Venice Expansion - 3 machine limit
Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena - 3 machine limit, 1 activation added every 30 days
Nail'd - 3 machine limit, 1 activation added back every 30 days. 5 revocations of these activations are allowed per month, and 1 is added back every 30 days.
James Cameron's Avatar: The Game - 3 machine limit, 1 activation added back every 30 days
Sherlock Holmes versus Jack the Ripper - Limits unknown
SolidShield
A Game of Thrones - 5 machine limit
Crysis 2 - 5 machine limit
Dead Space 2 - 5 machine limit
Shift 2 Unleashed - 5 machine limit
Other
Doom Rails - Themida 5 activation limit
Earth 2160 - 3 machine activation limit
Football Manager 2009 - Uniloc, 5 machine limit
Gatling Gears - EA Access, 5 activation limit per 24 hours
L.A. Noire: The Complete Edition - GameShield Ironwrap & Patcher. Machine limit explicitly not available per Rockstar policy, but is likely unlimited on Steam.
Max Payne 3 - GameShield Ironwrap & Patcher. Machine limit explicitly not available per Rockstar policy.
Monster Trucks Nitro - Activated through RedLynx servers. Activation limit exists, but is unknown and can be reset (Thread.
Spectromancer - Proprietary activation method though CD key. 5 machine limit.
Two Worlds Epic Edition - Proprietary activation limit (limit unknown). If limit is reached, contact support.
Two Worlds II Proprietary Aktivierung system, 3 machine limit
Two Worlds II Castle Defense Proprietary Aktivierung system, 3 machine limit