EA Responds To Battlefield Hardline DRM Complaints
Earlier this week, reports emerged that the Origin-based DRM used in Electronic Arts’ just-released Battlefield Hardline will monitor hardware changes in addition to keeping tabs on how many PCs can play host to the game. Battlefield Hardline apparently allows only five hardware changes per account before the game's activation becomes invalid. Once those are used up, the game won't load for 24 hours per activation.
"We're sorry, an error has occurred," Battlefield Hardline's warning said. "Too many computers have accessed this account's version of Battlefield Hardline recently. Please try again later."
Guru3D was the first to complain, stating that testing a "handful" of graphics cards with the game led to the error message. Based on the report, it appears that the warning can be triggered if users swap out components on their machines, such as graphics cards, CPUs or motherboards.
An error popping up after a new motherboard installed is perhaps understandable, but locking users out after installing new CPUs or graphics cards seems a bit heavy handed. Curious as to what's going on, we reached out to Electronic Arts for an answer.
"Origin authentication allows players to install a game on up to five different PCs every 24 hours," an EA representative told Tom's Hardware. "Players looking to benchmark more than five hardware configurations in one 24 hour period can contact our Customer Support team who can help."
Note the word "configuration." Origin seems to be keeping track of the hardware used on machines with Battlefield Hardline installed. Also note that the EA representative put the blame on the Origin platform, not an invasive software DRM.
What's curious here is that Origin will allow installations on five different configurations. Presumably, that should be plenty for all Battlefield Hardline players. Yet, this limit makes us wonder if EA is having a hard time with customers sharing their Origin account.
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Customers having to update multiple components may hit the Origin wall. Then again, the lock-out is only 24 hours per activation, which gives you plenty of time to play something else during the wait. Those who rarely update their hardware shouldn't have any problems whatsoever.
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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.
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agentbb007 Other than people who are benchmarking I can never see anyone needing to swap out hardware more than 5 times in a 24 hour period. Sounds like cheap software thieves are pissed because they can't buy 1 copy and share it with everyone they know.Reply -
dstarr3 This week in gaming news: Consumers offended by anti-consumer DRM found in AAA release.Reply
Same as last week, last month, last year, last decade. -
skit75 If they are selling my hardware data, all I want to know is when does the revenue stream rightfully funnel to me.Reply
Wouldn't a wiser decision to have been, polling Operating System identifiers if this was truly a DRM effort?
Even Steam collects hardware data although I have not experienced or heard of any lockout for changing my hardware. Another failed DRM attempt about to blow up in a developers face. Must be hard to be a content creator and have your brand tarnished by a publisher/distributor. -
canadianvice ReplyThis week in gaming news: Consumers offended by anti-consumer DRM found in AAA release.
Stupid people keep buying it. 12 year olds with parental wallets are truly a scourge on consumer progress.
Same as last week, last month, last year, last decade.
I don't buy DRM games - barring steam, but steam is fair and unobtrusive. I did buy the Sims 3 via a humble bundle, but I still pirated it because I hate origin. I feel that's morally and ethically OK. -
Fierce Guppy "Yet, this limit makes us wonder if EA is having a hard time with customers sharing their Origin account."Reply
Sharing wouldn't be a concern if the number of concurrent connections to a single Origin account is limited to one or two. Does anyone know what the limit is or if there is one?
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adonlude Is there no software you can run in the background that can spoof system specs for anything trying to look at them???Reply -
Larry Litmanen ReplyOther than people who are benchmarking I can never see anyone needing to swap out hardware more than 5 times in a 24 hour period. Sounds like cheap software thieves are pissed because they can't buy 1 copy and share it with everyone they know.
Few years ago i use to do a financial analysis and i was studying a number of Video Game makers. Year over year less and less money is coming from PC gaming and more money and resources is going to consoles. PC gamers don't understand that every time you pirate a game that's money for the company. The less the company makes the less likely they are to develop new games.
I love gaming on PC and that's why i never pirate games.
I suspect 5-10 years from now fewer and fewer games will be PC exclusives.
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Fierce Guppy ReplyThis week in gaming news: Consumers offended by anti-consumer DRM found in AAA release.
Stupid people keep buying it. 12 year olds with parental wallets are truly a scourge on consumer progress.
Same as last week, last month, last year, last decade.
I don't buy DRM games - barring steam, but steam is fair and unobtrusive. I did buy the Sims 3 via a humble bundle, but I still pirated it because I hate origin. I feel that's morally and ethically OK.
A moral person with an objection to Origin would not have downloaded the game. You stole it.
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agentbb007 Reply15556453 said:Anyone dumb enough to buy an EA game at this point deserves to get burned
I was wondering who was stupid enough to down vote my comment, then I read your comment and all was made clear.