Windows 10 won’t run games with SecuROM DRM, says Microsoft

[steven36]

Final nail in the coffin for most hated and most intrusive of all DRM systems.

While Windows 10 is largely good news for gamers, it turns out that those with a collection of older games laden with DRM copy protection software are going to have a hard time getting them up and running on the new OS. In an interview with Rocket Beans TV (as translated by Rock, Paper, Shotgun) at this year's Gamescom, Microsoft's Boris Schneider-Johne explained that that Windows 10 won't be able to run games that use SafeDisc and SecuROM technology.

"Everything that ran in Windows 7 should also run in Windows 10," said Johne, "There are just two silly exceptions: antivirus software, and stuff that’s deeply embedded into the system needs updating—but the developers are on it already—and then there are old games on CD-ROM that have DRM. This DRM stuff is also deeply embedded in your system, and that’s where Windows 10 says, 'Sorry, we cannot allow that, because that would be a possible loophole for computer viruses.' That’s why there are a couple of games from 2003-2008 with SecuROM, etc. that simply don’t run without a no-CD patch or some such."

This isn’t a bad thing for most people, though. While SafeDisc has hit the headlines before thanks to security issues in Windows—introducing access vulnerabilities into the OS, for example—it's SecuROM that is the most famous and the most hated of all DRM software. Developed by Sony DADC, SecuROM took a heavy-handed approach to DRM, limiting the number of installs and activations end users had access to, as well as requiring users to check in online to keep the game running. SecuROM even counted certain hardware changes as a change of computer, forcing another activation.

And that was when the DRM worked correctly. Often, activation servers would go down or keys wouldn't be recognised, leaving users unable to play the game they had just purchased. EA was particularly keen on SecuROM and ended up using it on a number of high-profile releases, much to the dismay of consumers. The PC version of Mass Effect was originally supposed to be reactivated every 10 days, and while that stipulation was eventually dropped, the game was still limited to three activations. Things were so bad with Spore that users eventually filled a class-action lawsuit against EA.

Fortunately, the dark days of DRM are largely behind us, and many of those older SecuROM games have since been patched by developers or publishers to remove DRM. DRM-free versions of many older releases are now available through places like GOG, too—or alternatively, should you wade into the shadier parts of the Internet, there are plenty of no-CD cracks for older games. If none of that's an option and you still fancy firing up that old disk-based copy of BioShock or Mass Effect, you might want to keep a Windows 7 install handy.

Source

[Holmes]

WIndows ten can prevent pirated software from running you go and get the software and buy and download and install it and windows ten doesnt like drm with the legal software your damned if you do and damned if you dont if windows ten could talk it would say you aint installing shit bitch lawls..

[Amigaspace]

Hm, I have a 2010 dictionary CD-ROM which is quite useful (yep, uses SecuROM). Is it dead for Windows 10? Haven't tried it yet.

[steven36]

WIndows ten can prevent pirated software from running you go and get the software and buy and download and install it and windows ten doesnt like drm with the legal software your damned if you do and damned if you dont if windows ten could talk it would say you aint installing shit bitch lawls..

Windows 10 has not disabled nothing on my system this far .Tell there's proof of this happening its just hear say . Its a fact some old games want work without a crack in Win10 but tell the other is proved its just nothing but a scare tactic . ;)

[Amigaspace]

I installed my aforementioned SecuROM application and it works fine on my Win 10 Pro. it passed the first SecuROM check (asks for the disc every 90 days - yet one more brilliant idea, courtesy of Sony :rolleyes: ).

[VileTouch]

suddenly all those securom cracks are useful for everyone!

[steven36]

I installed my aforementioned SecuROM application and it works fine on my Win 10 Pro. it passed the first SecuROM check (asks for the disc every 90 days - yet one more brilliant idea, courtesy of Sony :rolleyes: ).

:

Old games using that sort of copy protection – which includes stuff like Crimson Skies, Grand Theft Auto 3, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 and The Sims – won’t work on Windows 10 without a patch to remove the copy protection – either from the game developers, or through less savoury means. Unfortunately, patches obtained through those means might be blocked by Windows. One option to play these games again is to head on over to Good old games.

As RPS points out though, there are legal, mostly safe ways of enabling the necessary drivers to get the DRM working again“…you can download software which will apparently do it or learn how to do it yourself. If you choose this route it’ll leave a watermark, though you can also read how to remove that here.”

Once again, it’s a case of DRM getting in the way and becoming a pain for people who actually pay for their games.

http://www.lazygamer.net/pc-gaming/windows/windows-10-wont-play-games-that-use-safedisc-or-securom-drm/

Unfortunately, patches obtained through those means might be blocked by Windows

I wonder will this ever happen , or is it just some scare tactic by game developers? I doubt it would really happen, because a lot who buy games test cracked versions to decide if they want to buy the games . And a slew of gamers would be installing windows 7 again . :P

[DKT27]

Looks to me that a lot of games seem to use it.