BioShock 2 PC has Three Types of DRM

BioShock 2 isn't even released yet, and already it's come under fire for the use of Digital Rights Management (DRM) in the PC version. Confusingly though, the game uses three different types of DRM, which is compounding the problem for fans even further.

According to BitMob, 2K Games revealed exactly what gamers should expect when they buy their Games For Windows copy tomorrow. There's the usual non-Sever Side Authentication (non-SSA) which offers a limited-use CD key. It can be used up to 15 times across all user accounts and games, and after that, the player will need to call Microsoft for another one.

Failing that, BioShock 2 also comes with SSA, which means that your online Gamertag will be linked to the game, and all you need to do to authenticate is play whilst logged in. The issue with this is that Microsoft doesn't support Games For Windows Live in all countries where the game will be sold.

Finally – and perhaps the biggest blow to PC gamers – there's the use of Sony's own SecuROM technology that checks with online servers to see if the game is legitimate and that the executable is not altered. The controversy surrounding SecuROM is in its difficulty in removing after installation – something Sony quickly responded to with the release of a removal tool, but to little effect against the ire of PC gamers.

SecuROM is also present in the Steam version of BioShock 2, which BitMob argues as redundant as “Steam's own DRM technology already serves these functions [that SecuROM offers]. It's presence is turning away potential customers who dislike dealing with more hassle than just Valve and the publisher.”

The backlash is reported well on BitMob – what are your thoughts? Post them in the comments box below.