Why is Epic Games allowed to force always online DRM onto games I already own?

[Cobalt Wolf]

Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak was on my to-do list of games to play, and I was just about to play it when I discovered that just last month the game was updated to require an active connection to Epic Online Servers to even play the singleplayer. I did not agree to this when I bought the game. If this DRM was present at purchase, I would not have bought it. Why is any third party allowed to add always online DRM to games I already own without my consent? How many other games will I suddenly no longer be allowed to play without installing third party software from Epic, EA, Ubisoft, or some other company?

I just submitted a refund request for Homeworld, so I will see if I get my money back, but it is absolutely ridiculous that a third party that is not Steam/Valve is allowed to introduce changes of this kind to the terms of service of things I already own without my consent.

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Cobalt Wolf:

Why is Epic Games allowed to force always online DRM onto games I already own?

Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak was on my to-do list of games to play, and I was just about to play it when I discovered that just last month the game was updated to require an active connection to Epic Online Servers to even play the singleplayer. I did not agree to this when I bought the game. If this DRM was present at purchase, I would not have bought it. Why is any third party allowed to add always online DRM to games I already own without my consent? How many other games will I suddenly no longer be allowed to play without installing third party software from Epic, EA, Ubisoft, or some other company?

I just submitted a refund request for Homeworld, so I will see if I get my money back, but it is absolutely ridiculous that a third party that is not Steam/Valve is allowed to introduce changes to the terms of service of things I already own without my consent.

Because the game developer wanted to.

[Lithurge]

Have they added it to the GOG release? From the games page it says it's DRM free, although it does require GOG Galaxy for multiplayer and that can only be played with other GOG players.

[Crazy Tiger]

Epic doesn't force anything. Game developers choose to utilise EOS (which is basically Epics form of Steamworks).

[<( '.' )>]

Think the developers are just forced with what the publisher demands.
I mean the latest is the one who makes the profits from the sales, dévelopers already got their salaries, even before the game is out.

[Muppet among Puppets]

If it enables crossplay, it has a reason.

[AustrAlien2010]

Suddenly your game requires a permanent internet connection?
To me that seems a way to permanently lose customers. Why would they want to lose customers? Customers obviously are not going to buy this game anymore now, neither are they going to buy games from this developer, or buy future games in that franchise.
It seems a weird way of doing business, unless they're trying to go bankrupt on purpose? But why would they want to go bankrupt?

Are you sure this news is true, and its not fake news? Because sometimes people spread fake news, in order to damage a company name, or on accident...

[☎need4naiim☎]

I analyze the games i plan to buy for days, sometimes for weeks.

I sometimes even talk with developers whether they plan to do a collaboration with Tencent&Epic brigade (the Gaming Industry version of BRISC) later on or not. If they give a guarantee on these terms or they are already at odds with that brigade , then i buy those games.

[lsdninja]

Originally posted by ☎need4naiim☎:

I analyze the games i plan to buy for days, sometimes for weeks.

I sometimes even talk with developers whether they plan to do a collaboration with Tencent&Epic brigade (the Gaming Industry version of BRISC) later on or not. If they give a guarantee on these terms or they are already at odds with that brigade , then i buy those games.

That’s too much like hard work. I just wait until I can pick up a game for loose change. That way I don’t have enough invested to care.

[alumlovescake]

Valve doesn't care at all. as long as they get the 30% cut anything goes on the store


The fact games are even allowed to do this POST LAUNCH and not give anyone refunds really say something.

Valve is at fault for allowing it more then anything else

[Brian9824]

Originally posted by alumlovescake:

Valve doesn't care at all. as long as they get the 30% cut anything goes on the store


The fact games are even allowed to do this POST LAUNCH and not give anyone refunds really say something.

Valve is at fault for allowing it more then anything else

Not really, once you've been sold the game valve can't dictate what the developer does. It breaks no laws, so its an issue between you and the developer. Same thing if you had bought a game from gamestop or any other store and the developer changes it after the fact.

[AustrAlien2010]

You could also report the store page. They can at least look at it. Because it doesn't even says it requires an internet connection under the system requirements.

[HikariLight]

EULAs will state that the terms of service may change without warning.
Start reading those agreements, because they are legally binding contracts and you not reading them is not an excuse.

[AustrAlien2010]

UELA my ass. They should be apparent about what they are selling to people. If the game requires an internet connection, it should just say so on the store page under system requirements.

See Diablo 4. At least Blizzard is apparent about it:

[HikariLight]

The EULA straight up says that requirements to play the game may change over time.
Users failing to pay attention to that fact are being ignorant to the legal contract they agreed to when they started playing the game.

[davidb11]

Yeah, this is weird, but I don't see how it's as big as a deal as people claim it is.