We all knew this day would come, and soon, but this was done fairly quickly. This new hack requires users to download and install modified executable that will completely remove the DRM and allow for play without the constant connection to Ubisoft servers.

Skid Row even left a message for Ubisoft

“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.”

A bit of a harsh tone for a group of hackers who have taken a few extra precautions to avoid reverse engineering of their methods for beating this new DRM, but it’s well deserved for beating what most saw as a terrible idea.

Although this is not the first hack to come through the works, it seems to contain the full game as well. We here at The Gamerz Zone don’t condone pirating, but we can’t help but enjoy the backlash from gamers who oppose the DRM that has problems that players have absolutely no control over. Remember Ubisoft, we reap what we sow.

Ubisoft is working on a fix, but for now, a workaround exists. Simply clear you cache, and restart you Xbox without connecting to Xbox Live, and you’re good to go.

Update

A fix is live, and it requires no effort from the user. Simply play the game like normal.

May 11^th- Capcom is looking to start the summer of 2010 off right with their latest 3^rd-person shooter: Lost Planet 2. They are hoping to match the success than they had with the first game of the series: Lost Planet: Extreme Condition, which sold over 2.2 million copies after its release in 2007.  Taking place almost a decade after the first installment, Lost Planet 2 takes gamers deeper into the world of E.D.N. III to fight for the uncertain fate of mankind.

May 18^th- If you’re one of those gamers who just can’t forget about the Wild West then Rockstar Games’ Red Dead Redemption looks to be a good match for you.  Ride along as former outlaw John Marston as he travels along the American frontier trying to instill a little law and order.  I mean, who doesn’t love gun battles, train robberies, and a nice duel every now and then?

Also being released on May 18^th is the next chapter to Ubisoft’s critically acclaimed series, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands. Bound to be another hit, The Forgotten Sands follows the Prince as he embarks on an epic adventure to save the Royal Palace from its nearly inevitable destruction.  Along this amazing journey, the Prince will learn that having power can sometimes come at a great cost.

May 25^th- After gaining much recognition with their first UFC game (UFC Undisputed 2009), THQ will attempt to do it again with their newest project: UFC Undisputed 2010. This game is bound to be successful: after all, everyone loves to beat the crap out of somebody every now and then.  With over 100 real mixed martial artists, this is the only MMA game out there that can bring you this close to the real thing without actually being in the octagon.

July 1^st- Team Tachyon of Tecmo brings us what promises to be one of, if not the, best game coming out this summer: Quantum Theory.  This 3^rd person shooter centers around two characters, Syd and Fillena, who set out to fight and take down the evil “living tower.”  The game is set to feature a cover system that is somewhat similar to that of Gears of War, which is one reason why it has been labeled with so much hype.  With great scenery and a lot of action, Team Tachyon’s first project is expected to be a great one.

These games, along with many others, are sure to make this summer something to really look forward to!

Who says that the number thirteen has to be unlucky?  Sure, maybe it’s just because the thirteenth of April doesn’t fall on a Friday this time around, but maybe this upcoming Tuesday has a little potential in the gaming world.  All you 360 users out there will be able to enjoy one of the most anticipated action-packed games of the year, Ubisoft Montreal’s Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell: Conviction. This new Splinter Cell will take your mind for a ride after finding out that Sam Fisher has become a renegade and the entire storyline turns upside down.  Both editions of the game (Regular and Collector’s) are set to be released on the thirteenth with the Regular version of the game costing the normal $60, while the Collector’s Edition running about $80.

If it is a case of an attack on Ubisofts servers, and just their DRM and Login servers at that, you would think the company would realize that people are unhappy with their DRM practices, however, at this time, Ubisoft is making no attempt to alter or replace their DRM. Perhaps with more attacks or other unrelated downtime, Ubisoft will come to their senses.

“I don’t have any clear information on what the issue is … but clearly the extended downtime and lengthy login issues are unacceptable, particularly as I’ve been told these servers are constantly monitored. I’ll do what I can to get more information on what the issue is here first thing tomorrow and push for a resolution and assurance this won’t happen in the future.”

This, of course, does not affect those who went ahead and pirated the game instead, lending more credence to the idea the “crime pays.” But remember folks, if you pirate it, your game will be incomplete.

We here at The Gamerz Zone do not condone the act of piracy, however, we can’t help but smile at the irony, especially considering the honest gamers that are being punished by these DRM models currently being employed. The uploaders behind the torrent recommended that you don’t install the Ubisoft uploader or keep your internet connected, which, as you may have noticed, is the complete opposite of what Ubisoft is forcing users to do.

As we, once again, don’t condone pirating, we’ve been unable to verify if the crack is legitimate, but if you test it, let us know in the comments.

Update

Ubisoft has responded to the DRM crack, stating that the pirated versions of their games will be “incomplete.” No word yet on whether that missing “pieces” are simply the draconian DRM, or if they mean to say that the games will be missing important parts of the game itself. Either way, an incomplete game is better than no game, for those gamers out there with little or no consistent internet that Ubisoft has effectively abandoned.

Ubisoft are dickfucks. There. I said it. Now that I have that out of my system, allow me to elaborate.

Ubisoft have implemented DRM in the upcoming PC version of last years Assassin’s Creed 2. In case you don’t know what DRM is, it’s copy protection applied to prevent piracy. I’m all for game developers wanting their games to sell and make them money. But there’s one thing they need to learn. Don’t fucking punish the people buying your game. 

Ubisoft’s idea of copy protection is to charge you full price for nothing but a box, disc, and a manual. The game itself is not yours and never will be. Sounds ignorant, doesn’t it? Let me go further into detail.

Assassin’s Creed 2 and Settlers VII require you to have the disc in at all times and be connected to the internet to play. This isn’t a simple one time “Connect to the internet to validate your copy.” type of deal. With Ubisoft’s DRM, you can’t play a single-player game that lacks any online component unless you are hooked up to the internet the whole time you play.

If you get disconnected while playing, you are booted out of the game and lose all your progress since your last save or checkpoint and can’t play the game again until your internet connection is established.

You’d be paying $50 for a game you do not own. If Ubisoft servers go down, you can’t even enjoy the title screen of “your” game.

Ubisoft, understand this, please. You aren’t stopping piracy. You are causing it. Your game will be cracked and people will enjoy it free of charge because you think you are doing the right thing, when in reality, you are more shameful than any pirate to ever sail the seven internets. Stop punishing PC gamers. They’ve been though enough as it is. They don’t need you to further fuck things up for them.