DRM is something most gamers have learned to dislike with a passion, especially DRM that requires you to have a constant connection to the Internet even if you're playing a single-player game. It's becoming more and more common, so it wasn't a surprise that developer GSC said in an interview it would consider such DRM for the upcoming S.T.A.L.K.E.R. sequel.

After quite a bit of dismay at this announcement, GSC took to Twitter to clarify their earlier comments saying that a permanent Internet connection DRM scheme was "a possibility" of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 and not confirmed as being part of the game. In a statement given to Rock Paper Shotgun, GSC said "...there is no firm decision to go for DRM with S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 as of now."

Now that doesn't mean that S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 won't require a permanent connection to play it, GSC just hasn't made its minds up about what, or even if, it's going to have some sort of DRM put in place. It would be nice if GSC had faith in the game and PC gamers in general and S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 will feature, hopefully, at least some kind of non-invasive DRM. That being said, I know a lot of you will not be happy if S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 has any DRM.

GSC Respond On Staler 2 DRM Issue [Rock Paper Shotgun]

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 Timeline

Legacy Comments (will be imported soon)

Gorescream

huehuehue public outlash convinced them to reconsider their thoughts.

Drakengard

I can deal with DRM so long as it doesn't hassle me. Does my internet remain pretty steady?

Sure. But I shouldn't need to worry about my internet connectivity deciding if I can play something I paid for when there's absolutely no logical reason to do so unless you actually believe that Ubisoft's 90% decline in PC game sales once they started their connection DRM BS is purely because of piracy.

garethxxgod

I bet you had alot of fun typing out S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 5 times.

Scuffles

..... If I have learned anything it is to assume the worst case scenario. Until this game is launched and has been proven not to have always-on DRM, I have no reason to doubt that it will.

If it is launched without alwasy-on DRM, then I will be pleasantly surprised.

Fugly Duckling

I miss the days of CD Keys.

pokota

Unfortunately, I can't real the original source to see what he actually said, as it's in another language.

Personally, I don't hold it against a company for using DRM. I don't go all INTERNET OUTRAGE mode, I just simply refrain from buying it if it's a hassle. That's all. I have rural DSL has fluctuates like crazy, so I probably wouldn't buy anything that requires a persistent connection. I'm not going to act like my human rights have violated, though.

"It would be nice if GSC had faith in the game and PC gamers in general". Why would any developers have faith in gamers, and what does "faith in the game" mean? The better a game is, the more people pirate it.

tekbunny

@pukota

Youre like our resident Zen master. Does ANYTHING outrage you? I'm honestly just curious.

Also, ill get it on steams drm.

pokota

@takbunny
I guess I know you'll be there to balance things out.

Outrage me about videogames? Uh. Not much.

BrowneyeWinkin

This game is based in the Ukraine and considering the fact that the Ukraine and the rest of east Europe is plagued with piracy we can all bet this game WILL BE STOLEN

... That being said

putting this DRM in will hurt sales way more than a bunch of impoverished eastern Europeans

Why should a dedicated fan get booted out every ten minutes for paying full price when the pirate gets to play the game patched to offline perfection for free?

Piracy is always going to win the DRM fight so why not give your PAYING fans more love?

Dr Rockyowitz

I hope their DRM is called "Stalker" without all the punctuation marks. It'll be so damn literal.

tekbunny

@pakoto

You are the Yin to my Yang.

TheNephilym

Who says bitching and complaining on the internet doesn't change anything? ID is rushing out Rage patches, Netflix is canning Quickster, and now Stalker is reconsidering their heavy-handed DRM... all thanks to angry people on the web. You're welcome.

TheNephilym

Lol. Appropriate.

hpv

"GSC just hasn't made its minds up about what, or even if, it's going to have some sort of DRM put in place."

Alasdair: I want you to read and re-read that sentence until you understand why you are unfit to write for a Geocities site.

Mr Andy Dixon

hpv: I want you to eat an asshole.

Achromatis

PC gamers always get pissy when you mention DRM.

I wouldnt mind if they used Steam, because its widely used enough that most gamers already have it. Id love to have all DRM removed from my games, but Id also like two hot redheaded Russian cosplay girls to tend to my every need.

TheNephilym

Mr Andy Dixon: I want you to cram a boner in his arse. He deserves it.

PercyChuggs

Gotta love it when a company caves in to the demands of pirates who aren't going to buy the game anyway, regardless of what DRM it has.

TrevHead

What I cant understand is why devs cant come up with a form of DRM that is perminatly online and boots ppl as soon as their net drops, instead why cant it just check in every 5 minutes and have a countdown timer of 20 - 30 minutes?

I dont mind DRM as long as it doesnt inconvenience me, too many ppl in the world dont have a stable or unlimited DL tarrif for always online.

Karavision

Well, that will decide if it is a must buy or not. I did read a translation on Rock Paper Shotgun stating that Steam cuts into profits on their side of the world to the point where they do not make enough money, or something like that. It was a choppy translation. Single player games should never have online DRM.

TheNephilym

@PercyChuggs

Yes, because pirates are the ones who give a damn about DRM, right? Pirates will figure out a work around and have it anyway. Legit customers, on the other hand, have to pay good money for something that they can't play unless they're tied to internet somewhere. If you had internet like mine, you'd understand how shitty that would be. This kind of DRM should never be acceptable.

RaccoonBrigade

Haven't been banned yet, eh hpv?

Johnny Justice

Robotic: There's no cure for HPV.

Berserker

@PercyChuggs
Fuck you buddy. I have 5GB of bandwidth a month and when I go over I'm back to 56k. So fuck you and fuck your shit because there are many like me who can't download half the game just because the developer are trying to be assholes. If their system were to be implemented, you'd have to download quests and stuff on the fly. So fuck you

brod

Steamworks please.