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Ubisoft's DRM for Assassin's Creed II is Cracked

By - Source: Tom's Hardware US

The hackers have found a way around Ubisoft's DRM.

In the ongoing effort to protect the hard work of the developers, Ubisoft created a DRM scheme that required a constant internet connection for all gameplay, be it single player or multiplayer. Without a constant connection to Ubisoft's master servers, the game cannot be played.

This form of protection caused great inconveniences for buyers of the game, be it on the internet connection end or a takedown of the Ubisoft servers. While the DRM was causing grief for real buyers of the game, it did keep the pirates at bay for far longer than the usual PC game. But the game hackers have finally cracked it.

Cracking group known as Skid Row claims to have created a crack that removes the required internet connectivity from Assassin's Creed II. Some other cracks emulated Ubisoft's servers, fooling the game into thinking it was authenticated. Skid Row, however, said in its nfo notes that its crack cannot be compared to other emulation cracks, as "does not construct any program deviation or any kind of host file paradox solutions."

Skid Row also left a note for Ubisoft, which read, "Thank you Ubisoft, this was quiete [sic] a challenge for us, but nothing stops the leading force from doing what we do. Next time focus on the game and not on the DRM. It was probably horrible for all legit users. We just make their lifes [sic] easier."

While we do not condone piracy in any fashion, solutions such as this one created by hacking groups ensure that Assassin's Creed II will still be playable years from now, or in the event of a connection outage.

There are 139 Comments.
Top Comments
  • 52
    CTT , April 24, 2010 6:59 AM
    Tbh, that's piracy/hacking I would condone. Its redonkulous that they attempt DRM like that in the first place. Nicely done.
  • 35
    i_like_pie , April 24, 2010 7:07 AM
    Skid Row FTW!!!
  • 43
    babybeluga , April 24, 2010 7:13 AM
    I don't play pirated games, but I am completely all in favor of this. Restricting paying customers is the most ridiculous idea ever. People who aren't going to buy it (pirates) in the first place aren't just going to buy it because they can't play it.
  • 26
    kingnoobe , April 24, 2010 7:15 AM
    Yep, skid row has been my favorite for some time now, and it does work perfectly =).
  • 28
    xsamitt , April 24, 2010 7:19 AM
    I was all set to buy it but when i heard of the DRM for this title I didn't bother.I don't and will not pay for things not to work.
  • 31
    welshmousepk , April 24, 2010 7:20 AM
    dannyaaAm I the only one who thinks it is inappropriate to report on illegal cracking? I can see a semi-legitimate reason to post something like this (tech news regarding the uncrackable being cracked); on the flip side, it only promotes piracy by informing someone who may not otherwise know. It even gives the cracking group name for easy searching.


    if the original game wasn't such an insult to paying customers, you might be right.
    restricting people from playing a game they have paid for should be illegal, and in this instance i think the crackers are the good guys and Ubisoft are the bad guys.
  • 27
    skit75 , April 24, 2010 7:25 AM
    I really don't know what to say that hasn't been said in any other thread like this. We all knew it was going to happen. It seems developers are being scammed by folks dribbling nonsense about thier latest DRM packages. The developer buys in, feels the need to market the expensive DRM they just purchased, which then ultimatley seems to be an invitation or challenge to the hackers who eventually conquer said quest.
    Dear Developer,
    Please re-invest the money budgeted for DRM into the product. The usage statistics you see in a pirated game of any sort simply cannot reflect loss on your part because many in that usage statistic would have never bought the game anyway and only tried it because it was already cracked on release. I want you to be paid for your work and will continue to buy quality releases so long as my right to play the damn game still exists without being punished for my purchase.
    Sincerely,
    Gamer for life.
  • 24
    the_one111 , April 24, 2010 7:28 AM
    dannyaaAm I the only one who thinks it is inappropriate to report on illegal cracking? I can see a semi-legitimate reason to post something like this (tech news regarding the uncrackable being cracked); on the flip side, it only promotes piracy by informing someone who may not otherwise know. It even gives the cracking group name for easy searching.
    By this logic we shouldn't report on murders or thefts either.
  • 25
    micr0be , April 24, 2010 7:34 AM
    IN UR FACE UBISOFT !! ... marcus have u contacted ubisoft for comment on the matter ? maybe they will release a patch to remove the DRM completely... any updates would be helpful :) 
  • 22
    icepick314 , April 24, 2010 7:39 AM
    wonder how much money was spent coming up with this DRM?

    WELP!!! DOWN THE TOILET IT GOES!!!!!!
  • 18
    anonymous@guest , April 24, 2010 7:42 AM
    I am a lifetime gamer and will not purchase Assassin's creed because of the foul way this DRM is implemented. I do buy all of the games I play. I only buy PC games because I don't need different consoles (PC) to tie me down to their hardware.
Other Comments
  • 52
    CTT , April 24, 2010 6:59 AM
    Tbh, that's piracy/hacking I would condone. Its redonkulous that they attempt DRM like that in the first place. Nicely done.
  • 43
    babybeluga , April 24, 2010 7:13 AM
    I don't play pirated games, but I am completely all in favor of this. Restricting paying customers is the most ridiculous idea ever. People who aren't going to buy it (pirates) in the first place aren't just going to buy it because they can't play it.
  • 35
    i_like_pie , April 24, 2010 7:07 AM
    Skid Row FTW!!!
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