Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition Getting Online-Only DRM On PC [Capcom Utilizing Online-Only DRM That Turns The PC Version of SSFIV: Arcade Edition Into A Glorified Demo In Order To Combat Hacking]

Posted on TFTS by Eric Abent on Thursday, 26. May 2011 under: Computer/Console Gaming

Capcom boss Christian Svensson has revealed that the PC version Super Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition will have an online-only DRM to prevent piracy and hackers from ruining the competitive aspect of the title. This, of course, adds to the long list of publishers who implement frustrating DRMs that only seem to punish paying customers.

This online-only DRM is a little bit different than others we’ve seen in the past, though. Instead of kicking you out of the game completely when you lose your connection to the internet, SSFIV: Arcade Edition will go into somewhat of a demo mode, with Svensson saying, “You won’t be able to save any progress in challenges or settings, won’t have access to any DLC you’ve purchased and all local play will be restricted to 15 of the 39 characters.”

In addition to that, players will be forced to register an account through Games for Windows Live in order to play their copy of the game, though there isn’t a restriction on how many times you can re-install the game, if that’s any consolation to you.

Svensson says that these measures have been put in place to combat piracy and to stop the hackers that “messed up leaderboards,” when the original Street Fighter IV was released on PC (hacking and piracy are the reasons Super Street Fighter IV missed a release on PC).

I’m all for fighting hacking and piracy, but is an online-only DRM such as this the way to go? I mean, next to something like this, online pass looks great. In never-ending war between publishers and pirates, which DRM method do you prefer (because let’s face it, DRM isn’t going away)? Do you have any ideas for DRMs that don’t punish paying customers? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comment section below.