PS3 Version of Bionic Commando Rearmed 2 Includes Internet DRM

On the PC, gamers are all too used to draconian DRM schemes, but believe it or not – console gamers are not devoid of it either. It could be imagined that there are no such DRM schemes on a console that could cause a real headache for gamers, but that’s not true. With the advent of downloadable games, it seems developers are getting craftier with their DRM.

As Ars Technica explains, the new release Bionic Commando Rearmed 2, produced by Capcom, includes DRM on the PS3 version that requires an Internet connection to allow the gamer to play. This is nearly identical to the DRM once employed by Ubisoft for games such as Assassin’s Creed II, which required a constant Internet connection in order to continue playing.

The mind-boggling thing about Bionic Commando Rearmed 2, though, is that the game has no online features whatsoever. You can’t go online and team up with friends, and there’s literally no online content to be had. So what’s the deal? It seems that Capcom simply believes that its games are at risk of being pirated, and it wants to keep tabs on who’s playing a purchased copy.

The reason behind this move isn’t known for certain, but it’s rather obvious what it’s likely to be. On the PS3, user account information can be stored on multiple consoles, and as a result, many people will share each other’s logins in order to share games. At best, you can purchase a game, and share it among four friends, and vice versa. With this DRM, Capcom is likely to make sure that the game isn’t used twice at the same time, or might even go further if two different IP addresses are spotted.

Either way, this move is truly ridiculous and it’s upsetting to see a quality developer such as Capcom getting sucked into the dark world of asinine DRM. Is piracy really so bad on a console that the company must add a hurdle for those who are legally purchasing the game?

This requirement is laid out in the game’s description with a note saying you must log into the PlayStation Network every time you’d like to play, but this makes little sense. Is piracy becoming that large of a problem with downloadable games? Will this do much to stop piracy, even as it annoys everyone who actually buys the game? These are all open questions, but it’s hard to justify spending money on a game that won’t work if the PlayStation Network ever goes down.