BioWare Drops Mass Effect PC Copy Protection Authentication

Officials from Electronic Arts owned developer BioWare Corp. have confirmed that the company will not be using previously described anti-piracy software in its future games, after an outcry from online fans. The copy protection formerly used in the forthcoming PC version of the critically acclaimed Mass Effect would have required the user to authentic the software online every ten days. The Mass Effect copy protection would also have allowed the game to be activated a maximum of only three times with the ten day schedule being mandatory for each activation. The SecuROM software has previously drawn criticism from fans after its use in Take-Two Interactive’s Bioshock and some of Electronic Arts’ The Sims 2 expansions. A lengthy post on BioWare’s official forums, by community manager Jay Watamaniuk, states unequivocally that “Mass Effect will not require 10- day periodic re-authentication”. “BioWare has always listened very closely to its fans and we made this decision to ensure we are delivering the best possible experience to them," said Watamaniuk. "To all the fans including our many friends in the armed services and internationally who expressed concerns that they would not be able re-authenticate as often as required, EA and BioWare want you to know that your feedback is important to us.” “The solution being implemented for Mass Effect for the PC changes copy protection from being key disc based, which requires authentication every time you play the game by requiring a disc in the drive, to a one time online authentication,” he concluded. “This system has an added benefit of allowing players to seamlessly play the game without needing the DVD in the drive.”