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[[wikipedia:SecuROM|SecuROM]]<ref>https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/SecuROM</ref> was a piece of [[DRM]] developed by [[Sony]] for PC games and first released in 1998. Historically, SecuROM is well known for being the most agitating form of [[DRM]] of the 2000s, and its inclusion within [[Electronic Arts]]' Spore has led to the game retaining its position as the most pirated game to-date.<ref name=":0">https://torrentfreak.com/spore-most-pirated-game-ever-thanks-to-drm-080913/</ref> SecuROM stopped being supported by Sony quietly, however a rough estimate for the final SecuROM-protected title of around a few years after [https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Onyx Onyx]'s release in 2017 would be a reasonable guess.<!-- Bonus sources to read for integrating more info to this page:
[[wikipedia:SecuROM|'''SecuROM''']] is a [[digital rights management]] (DRM) system developed by [[Sony]] for PC games and first released in 1998.<ref>https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/SecuROM</ref> Historically, SecuROM is well known for being the most agitating form of DRM of the 2000s, and its inclusion within [[Electronic Arts]]' ''Spore'' has led to the game retaining its position as the most pirated game to-date.<ref name=":0">https://torrentfreak.com/spore-most-pirated-game-ever-thanks-to-drm-080913/</ref> SecuROM stopped being supported by Sony quietly some time after 2017, the release date of the last SecuROM-protected title, [https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/Onyx Onyx]. In 2014, SecuROM was succeeded by a newer DRM system, [[Denuvo]], through a management buyout of its developer. <!-- Can we fix the template to be for software at all? -->{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = SecuROM
| Founded = 1998
| Industry = Digital Rights Management
| Official Website = https://securom.com
| Logo = SecuROMLogo.svg
| Company = Subsidiary of Sony DADC
}}<!-- Bonus sources to read for integrating more info to this page:
https://web.archive.org/web/20191105161102/https://www.tweakguides.com/Piracy_9.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20191105161102/https://www.tweakguides.com/Piracy_9.html
https://cracklab.team/PAunlock/ -->
https://cracklab.team/PAunlock/ -->


== General problems ==
==General problems==


=== Optical drive bugs ===
===Optical-drive bugs===
Various releases of Secu-ROM have been known to sometimes struggle to even detect legitimate copies of games inside users' disc drives.<ref name=":1">https://web.archive.org/web/20191105161102/https://www.tweakguides.com/Piracy_9.html</ref> Additionally, some optical drive models were simply incompatible with SecuROM.<ref name=":1" /><!-- We should find more documentation than what has been provided by Wikipedia -->
Various releases of Secu-ROM have been known to sometimes struggle to even detect legitimate copies of games inside users' disc drives.<ref name=":1">https://web.archive.org/web/20191105161102/https://www.tweakguides.com/Piracy_9.html</ref> Additionally, some optical drive models were simply incompatible with SecuROM.<ref name=":1" /><!-- We should find more documentation than what has been provided by Wikipedia -->


=== Explicit Congestion Notification ===
===Explicit Congestion Notification===
ECN, a feature seen on Windows Vista which helped users with still connecting online with large networks, was required to be turned off due to how SecuROM functioned.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20080926003605/http://www.pcworld.com/article/150965/casual_friday_why_spore_wont_work.html</ref>
Explicit Congestion Notification (ECN), a feature seen on Windows Vista which helped users with still connecting online with large networks, was required to be turned off because of how SecuROM functioned.<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20080926003605/http://www.pcworld.com/article/150965/casual_friday_why_spore_wont_work.html</ref>


=== Software conflicts ===
===Software conflicts===
Secu-ROM also fought multiple other pieces of software<ref name=":1" />, one of which being Process Explorer<ref>http://forum.sysinternals.com/printer_friendly_posts.asp?TID=10337</ref>
SecuROM also fought multiple other pieces of software,<ref name=":1" /> one of which being Process Explorer.<ref>http://forum.sysinternals.com/printer_friendly_posts.asp?TID=10337</ref>


=== Installation Limits ===
===Installation limits===
Users who owned SecuROM-protected games would often be allotted a limited number of times that they can install their games. EA's Spore had a limit of 3 installs (raised to 5), Bioshock had 2 (raised to 5, before being removed) and would even limit installs per user on the same device,<ref>http://www.neoseeker.com/news/story/7091/</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20071013211034/http://maxconsole.net/?mode=news&newsid=20470</ref> and Mass Effect had 3, however uninstallations would not increase the number of installs unlike other SecuROM titles.
Users who owned SecuROM-protected games would often be allotted a limited number of times that they can install their games. EA's ''Spore'' had a limit of 3 installs (raised to 5), ''Bioshock'' had 2 (raised to 5, before being removed) and would even limit installs per user on the same device,<ref>http://www.neoseeker.com/news/story/7091/</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20071013211034/http://maxconsole.net/?mode=news&newsid=20470</ref> and Mass Effect had 3, but uninstallations would not increase the number of installs unlike other SecuROM titles.


=== Degradation ===
===Degradation===
Due to the security features introduced by [[Microsoft]] to [[Windows]] 10 and later, many older SecuROM titles <!-- Mostly found through comparing data on older games on newer hardware. I believe SecuROM titles that released about 5 years before Win 10 can still be run, however I have yet to locate enough software with SecuROM to do a controlled sweep to be certain. ATM, I can run 2012's Crysis just fine on both my Win 10 laptop and Win 11 desktop.
Because of the security features introduced by [[Microsoft]] to [[Windows]] 10 and later, many older SecuROM titles <!-- Mostly found through comparing data on older games on newer hardware. I believe SecuROM titles that released about 5 years before Win 10 can still be run, however I have yet to locate enough software with SecuROM to do a controlled sweep to be certain. ATM, I can run 2012's Crysis just fine on both my Win 10 laptop and Win 11 desktop.


I am prepared to document EA's fuck-up on the wiki whenever secu-rom finally fails on my legitimate copy of Crysis. Oh, and C&C3. --> cannot function on modern hardware without cracking or other means of circumvention.<ref>https://www.legoisland.org/wiki/SecuROM</ref>
I am prepared to document EA's fuck-up on the wiki whenever secu-rom finally fails on my legitimate copy of Crysis. Oh, and C&C3. --> cannot function on modern hardware without cracking or other means of circumvention.<ref>https://www.legoisland.org/wiki/SecuROM</ref>


== Notable Anti-consumer events <!-- Organize the list by release year! --> ==<!-- Reference PC Gaming Wiki for other games to list here
==Notable anti-consumer events<!-- Organize the list by release year! -->==<!-- Reference PC Gaming Wiki for other games to list here
https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/SecuROM -->
https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/SecuROM -->
{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
Line 31: Line 38:
!Relevant article
!Relevant article
|-
|-
|BioShock
|''BioShock''
|2007
|2007
|Users were limited to 2 installs of the game, and had to call in to be allowed further installs. It was raised soon to 5 after a misprint of a phone number in a manual<!-- Need sauce! -->, and eventually the limit discontinued in 2008, however it took much longer before editions of BioShock would be officially released without SecuROM.
|Users were limited to 2 installs of the game, and had to call in to be allowed further installs. It was raised soon to 5 after a misprint of a phone number in a manual<!-- Need sauce! -->, and eventually the limit discontinued in 2008, however it took much longer before editions of BioShock would be officially released without SecuROM.
|
|
|-
|-
|Mass Effect
|''Mass Effect''
|2007
|2007
|Mass Effect was the first SecuROM game known to not refund installations for users, and also required that the game installation to be verified every 10 days. <ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20080614201655/http://www.shacknews.com/laryn.x?story=52618</ref>
|''Mass Effect'' was the first SecuROM game known to not refund installations for users, and also required that the game installation to be verified every 10 days. <ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20080614201655/http://www.shacknews.com/laryn.x?story=52618</ref>
|
|
|-
|-
|[[Spore]]<!-- I want an article for Spore, the anticonsumer history behind it is insane, from SecuROM to EA blocking server access for Steam and GOG releases. -->
|''[[Spore]]<!-- I want an article for Spore, the anticonsumer history behind it is insane, from SecuROM to EA blocking server access for Steam and GOG releases. -->''
|2008
|2008
|The application of SecuROM in Spore left the program trapped under always-online DRM<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8ltfyqD3lM</ref>, which in the 2000s was fatal for anyone's internet bills. The popularity of this game, mixed in with its preemptive cracking, and DRM led to the title holding the record as the most pirated video game.<ref name=":0" /> Additionally, there were lawsuits that formed over the implementation of SecuROM inside Spore.<ref>http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/09/24/ea-faces-class-action-lawsuit-over-spore-drm</ref><ref>http://www.courthousenews.com/2008/09/23/Spore.pdf</ref>
|The application of SecuROM in ''Spore'' left the program trapped under always-online DRM<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8ltfyqD3lM</ref>, which in the 2000s was fatal for anyone's internet bills. The popularity of this game, mixed in with its preemptive cracking, and DRM led to the title holding the record as the most pirated video game.<ref name=":0" /> Additionally, there were lawsuits that formed over the implementation of SecuROM inside ''Spore.''<ref>http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/09/24/ea-faces-class-action-lawsuit-over-spore-drm</ref><ref>http://www.courthousenews.com/2008/09/23/Spore.pdf</ref>
|
|
|-
|-
|Tron: Evolution
|''Tron: Evolution''
|2010
|2010
|Towards the tail-end of SecuROM's usage in 2019, [[Disney]] decided to terminate their license, thus leading to all legitimate copies of Tron: Evolution to be unplayable, and the game was subsequently pulled from digital software vendors.<ref>https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20191204/09531743504/disneys-decision-not-to-renew-securom-license-bricks-tron-evolution.shtml</ref> Disney claims to be currently updating the game to not have SecuROM, however after nearly 6 years since its termination, there has been no new updates upon whether the game will re-release
|Towards the tail-end of SecuROM's usage in 2019, [[Disney]] decided to terminate their license, thus leading to all legitimate copies of ''Tron: Evolution'' to be unplayable, and the game was subsequently pulled from digital software vendors.<ref>https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20191204/09531743504/disneys-decision-not-to-renew-securom-license-bricks-tron-evolution.shtml</ref> Disney claims to be currently updating the game to not have SecuROM, however after nearly six years since its termination, there has been no new updates upon whether the game will re-release
|
|
|-
|-
|Final Fantasy 7 (PC, re-release)
|''Final Fantasy 7'' (PC, re-release)
|2012
|2012
|The distribution of the re-release of FF7 for PCs caught users off guard when Square Enix distributed this version with SecuROM, and on release, servers were inaccessible, so users could not verify their licenses until much later.<ref>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/05/final-fantasy-vii-pc-released-early-then-pulled/</ref>
|The distribution of the re-release of ''FF7'' for PCs caught users off guard when Square Enix distributed this version with SecuROM, and on release, servers were inaccessible, so users could not verify their licenses until much later.<ref>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/05/final-fantasy-vii-pc-released-early-then-pulled/</ref>
|
|
|}
|}


== References ==
==References==
<references />
<references />

Latest revision as of 12:37, 23 January 2025

SecuROM is a digital rights management (DRM) system developed by Sony for PC games and first released in 1998.[1] Historically, SecuROM is well known for being the most agitating form of DRM of the 2000s, and its inclusion within Electronic Arts' Spore has led to the game retaining its position as the most pirated game to-date.[2] SecuROM stopped being supported by Sony quietly some time after 2017, the release date of the last SecuROM-protected title, Onyx. In 2014, SecuROM was succeeded by a newer DRM system, Denuvo, through a management buyout of its developer.

SecuROM
Basic information
Founded 1998
Type {{{Type}}}
Industry Digital Rights Management
Official website https://securom.com


General problems[edit | edit source]

Optical-drive bugs[edit | edit source]

Various releases of Secu-ROM have been known to sometimes struggle to even detect legitimate copies of games inside users' disc drives.[3] Additionally, some optical drive models were simply incompatible with SecuROM.[3]

Explicit Congestion Notification[edit | edit source]

Explicit Congestion Notification (ECN), a feature seen on Windows Vista which helped users with still connecting online with large networks, was required to be turned off because of how SecuROM functioned.[4]

Software conflicts[edit | edit source]

SecuROM also fought multiple other pieces of software,[3] one of which being Process Explorer.[5]

Installation limits[edit | edit source]

Users who owned SecuROM-protected games would often be allotted a limited number of times that they can install their games. EA's Spore had a limit of 3 installs (raised to 5), Bioshock had 2 (raised to 5, before being removed) and would even limit installs per user on the same device,[6][7] and Mass Effect had 3, but uninstallations would not increase the number of installs unlike other SecuROM titles.

Degradation[edit | edit source]

Because of the security features introduced by Microsoft to Windows 10 and later, many older SecuROM titles cannot function on modern hardware without cracking or other means of circumvention.[8]

Notable anti-consumer events[edit | edit source]

Game Release year Notable effects Relevant article
BioShock 2007 Users were limited to 2 installs of the game, and had to call in to be allowed further installs. It was raised soon to 5 after a misprint of a phone number in a manual, and eventually the limit discontinued in 2008, however it took much longer before editions of BioShock would be officially released without SecuROM.
Mass Effect 2007 Mass Effect was the first SecuROM game known to not refund installations for users, and also required that the game installation to be verified every 10 days. [9]
Spore 2008 The application of SecuROM in Spore left the program trapped under always-online DRM[10], which in the 2000s was fatal for anyone's internet bills. The popularity of this game, mixed in with its preemptive cracking, and DRM led to the title holding the record as the most pirated video game.[2] Additionally, there were lawsuits that formed over the implementation of SecuROM inside Spore.[11][12]
Tron: Evolution 2010 Towards the tail-end of SecuROM's usage in 2019, Disney decided to terminate their license, thus leading to all legitimate copies of Tron: Evolution to be unplayable, and the game was subsequently pulled from digital software vendors.[13] Disney claims to be currently updating the game to not have SecuROM, however after nearly six years since its termination, there has been no new updates upon whether the game will re-release
Final Fantasy 7 (PC, re-release) 2012 The distribution of the re-release of FF7 for PCs caught users off guard when Square Enix distributed this version with SecuROM, and on release, servers were inaccessible, so users could not verify their licenses until much later.[14]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/wiki/SecuROM
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://torrentfreak.com/spore-most-pirated-game-ever-thanks-to-drm-080913/
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 https://web.archive.org/web/20191105161102/https://www.tweakguides.com/Piracy_9.html
  4. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20080926003605/http://www.pcworld.com/article/150965/casual_friday_why_spore_wont_work.html
  5. ↑ http://forum.sysinternals.com/printer_friendly_posts.asp?TID=10337
  6. ↑ http://www.neoseeker.com/news/story/7091/
  7. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20071013211034/http://maxconsole.net/?mode=news&newsid=20470
  8. ↑ https://www.legoisland.org/wiki/SecuROM
  9. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20080614201655/http://www.shacknews.com/laryn.x?story=52618
  10. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8ltfyqD3lM
  11. ↑ http://www.gamepolitics.com/2008/09/24/ea-faces-class-action-lawsuit-over-spore-drm
  12. ↑ http://www.courthousenews.com/2008/09/23/Spore.pdf
  13. ↑ https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20191204/09531743504/disneys-decision-not-to-renew-securom-license-bricks-tron-evolution.shtml
  14. ↑ http://www.joystiq.com/2012/08/05/final-fantasy-vii-pc-released-early-then-pulled/
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