In the age of the digital download, DRM is a hot-button issue for video game players. The concept of ownership was cut-and-dried in the days of physical media, but there’s far more room for debate now that digital distribution services like Steam make up such a large proportion of the wider marketplace.
And while the concept of DRM is nothing new, it’s the age of the practice that might lead to some older games becoming unplayable — thanks to a new update Microsoft has released for systems running running Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8.
The update brings these versions in line with Windows 10 by disabling support for the SafeDisc and SecuROM DRM protocols, which were in widespread use when video games were largely distributed on CD and DVD. This might render some older games unplayable, according to a report from Hexus.
One of the biggest arguments against digital downloads from a consumer perspective is the threat of games being de-listed or otherwise made unavailable after the time of purchase. A situation like this one demonstrates that even physical media can be rendered unusable by a change in DRM policies years after a game was purchased.
Microsoft does offer a workaround, but the company stresses that there are risks associated with the procedure. Using a command line prompt, you can disable the driver — but there’s a warning that this might leave your system open to attack by malicious users.
Beyond that, it’s perhaps best to simply re-purchase the desired game via a digital distribution service without DRM, such as GOG. It’s understandable why developers choose to employ DRM to protect their work, but news like this only serves as a reminder that proper care has to be taken to ensure that it’s implemented well.
Acer’s Predator Atlas 8 finally has a US release date and price, several months after the company first showed off the handheld in May. The highlight is the Intel Arc G3 Extreme chip inside, which has been adopted by only a couple of other consoles besides the Atlas 8. This version will go on sale exclusively at Best Buy on November 1 for $1,299.99.
Acer originally said the Atlas 8 would arrive in North America in October, but left pricing open at the time. The launch came amid the ongoing DRAM crunch, which has made memory more expensive across the PC industry and complicated pricing for hardware makers.
Gaming laptops and I have a complicated relationship. One of my first gaming rigs was an Acer Predator that was already outdated when I bought it. I was a broke college kid, and that was the best I could afford. So trying out high-end gaming laptops is always fun. But ASUS' ROG Zephyrus G14 is a lot more than a laptop that can run AAA games. It is portable, so you're not lugging around a 2.5kg machine everywhere you go. It is built well, none of that plastic chassis, and can even function as a normal laptop outside of just gaming.
Google Play is borrowing one of the Nintendo Switch’s most useful little tricks. A new Sidekick tool called Playbacks captures a short clip after something interesting has already happened, sparing players from running a screen recorder throughout an entire game.
Playbacks is part of Google Play Store v53.8 and keeps saved clips on the phone. Google first announced it earlier this month, but the new Play Store update marks its arrival for players. Anyone who has watched a perfect win vanish because the record button came too late already understands the appeal.