Digital rights management
Software concept
At least one release of the game uses any form of DRM, technology used to limit the use of digital content after sale. Commonly in some form that prevents or hampers making of (or the usability of) extra copies.
879
games
21platforms
Alternate name: Copy protection
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Implementations: (specific software/hardware)
* SafeDisc
* SecuROM: 1.0+, 4.0+, 4.6x, 4.7-4.83, 4.84+, 5.x, 7.x, PA
* StarForce
* Tages
* SolidShield
* SmartE
* Impulse::GOO
* Microsoft SSA (Server Side Authentication) & ZDPP (Zero Day Piracy Protection) - for more info, go here: www.microsoft.com/games/en-us/aboutgfw/pages/gflwpublish.aspx
Schemes:
* Feelies
* Internet activation
* Constant internet connection
Related:
* Media in drive - not always explicitly a form of copy protection
* CD key - not always explicitly a form of copy protection
* DRM removed - for cases when the copy protection has been removed
Contrast:
* No DRM (though only for cases where it is otherwise expected to be present)
- 5 replies
* SafeDisc
* SecuROM: 1.0+, 4.0+, 4.6x, 4.7-4.83, 4.84+, 5.x, 7.x, PA
* StarForce
* Tages
* SolidShield
* SmartE
* Impulse::GOO
* Microsoft SSA (Server Side Authentication) & ZDPP (Zero Day Piracy Protection) - for more info, go here: www.microsoft.com/games/en-us/aboutgfw/pages/gflwpublish.aspx
Schemes:
* Feelies
* Internet activation
* Constant internet connection
Related:
* Media in drive - not always explicitly a form of copy protection
* CD key - not always explicitly a form of copy protection
* DRM removed - for cases when the copy protection has been removed
Contrast:
* No DRM (though only for cases where it is otherwise expected to be present)
- 5 replies
Popular tags
actionadventure aspectratio-16-9 aspectratio-4-3 cdrom cpplanguage directx8 directx9 drm-removed dvd fmod leveleditor lua lutris mediaindrive milessound nodrm openal opengl safedisc securom securom7 serialkey shadermodel2 shadermodel3 starforce tactical ubuntu vorbis widescreen win2k win98 winvista winxpGames by year
The first Digital rights management video game was released in 1980.
Ubisoft and Electronic Arts published most of these games.
Platforms
Most common companies
Child groups
| ActiveMARK copy protection | Trymedia's copy protection schema. | 1 game | ||
| Denuvo | A DRM scheme by Denuvo Software Solutions, created with bought out code from Sony DADC, the former creators of SecuROM. | 2014 / 2020 | 28 games | |
| DRM removed | Games that originally were copy protected but had it removed in some officially released patch. | 1982 / 2020 | 45 games | |
| DRM: Always Online | Any DRM that requires player to be constantly connected to authentication servers to play, even for singleplayer and LAN games. | 1999 / 2013 | 35 games | |
| DRM: Corrupt media | Uses intentionally damaged/corrupted media as a form of DRM, causing read errors when copying is attempted, making the copies different than the original and thus triggering the copy protection when one attempts to use the copies. | 2 games | ||
| DRM: Encryption | Uses DRM that involves encrypting all or parts of the game data, executables, etc. Which is decrypted with proper serial key and/or online activation. | 1 game | ||
| DRM: Game altering | The included DRM changes the functionality of the game somehow for illicit copies of it but does not prevent running or playing it. | 1984 / 2014 | 8 games | |
| DRM: Login | Any DRM that requires an account at an online service. | 2002 / 2016 | 53 games | |
| DRM: Media check | DRM that employs some form of media check for validating the player has legal copy of the game. | 2002 / 2009 | 3 games | |
| DRM: Online activation | Requires online activation before you can play. | 2000 / 2018 | 97 games | |
| DRM: Pinhole Copy Protection | Primitive DRM method of puncturing a specific point of a master floppy disk. If the game can read & write the damaged sector, it knows its being played from a copy | 3 games | ||
| EA Access | A DRM solution from Electronic Arts. | 1 game | ||
| FADE | A DRM scheme created by Codemasters that reduces game functionality gradually as it detects the copy being illegal until the game becomes unplayable. | 2001 / 2017 | 5 games | |
| Feelies required | Each playthrough, load, character creation [i]or[/i] savegame, requires consulting a chart, map, decoder wheel, word on a page in the manual, or additional game materials. | 1983 / 2021 | 158 games | |
| GameShield | A copy protection solution by Yummy Interactive. | 2009 / 2012 | 3 games | |
| Impulse::GOO | A copy protection schema from Stardock. | 2005 / 2011 | 38 games | |
| Linux Game Publishing Copy Protection | Supposedly a key/name/password system designed for full legal copying & installation rights for legitimate buyers while discouraging illegal copies. | 2001 / 2009 | 22 games | |
| Online pass | Required the use of an online pass. Such as separately purchased online subscription, a serial key delivered along with the retail game, or some other method that limits the availability of online gaming to new purchases of the game. | 2011 / 2012 | 4 games | |
| PhenoProtect copy protection | 1 game | |||
| Protect Disc Copy Protection | Protect Disc involves damaging the CDs during the manufacturing process before the actual data is replicated or written to them. | 1 game | ||
| ProtectCD | ProtectCD is assumed to involve damaging the CDs during the manufacturing process before the actual data is replicated or written to them. | 2 games | ||
| ProtectCD-VOB Copy Protection | ProtectCD-VOB is [[tag:ProtectDisc assumed]] to involve damaging the CDs during the manufacturing process before the actual data is replicated or written to them. | 2000 / 2002 | 3 games | |
| SafeDisc copy protection | Uses SafeDisc copy protection scheme. | 1998 / 2008 | 72 games | |
| SecuROM copy protection | Uses any version of the SecuROM copy protection scheme. | 1999 / 2013 | 83 games | |
| SmartE copy protection | A copy protection scheme. | 2005 / 2006 | 4 games | |
| Soft Denchi | A DRM solution from Paltiosoft. | 1 game | ||
| SoftwareShield IronWrap | An obfuscating DRM scheme that involves a mini virtual machine. | 2011 / 2012 | 2 games | |
| Solidshield | A copy protection scheme by TAGES SA. | 2007 / 2012 | 17 games | |
| StarForce copy protection | A copy protection scheme that has garnered perhaps the most criticism when compared to other mechanisms (barring things like Steam). Installs low-level system drivers to perform their task. | 1998 / 2021 | 60 games | |
| TAGES copy protection | 2006 / 2013 | 30 games | ||
| Uniloc copy protection | A copy protection scheme by Uniloc Corporation. | 1 game |