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Aging digital rights management software such as SafeDisc and Securom isn’t compatible with Windows 10, meaning many old disc-based games are incompatible.
Everything that ran in Windows 7 should also run in Windows 10,” Microsoft’s Boris Schneider-Johne explained in a German Gamescom video translated by Rock Paper Shotgun. There are just two silly exceptions: antivirus software and stuff that’s deeply embedded into the system needs updating – but the developers are on it already – and then there are old games on CD-Rom that have DRM.
This DRM stuff is also deeply embedded in your system, and that’s where Windows 10 says ‘sorry, we cannot allow that, because that would be a possible loophole for computer viruses’. That’s why there are a couple of games from 2003-2008 with Securom, etc that simply don’t run without a no-CD patch or some such. We can just not support that if it’s a possible danger for our users.
There are a couple of patches from developers already, and there is stuff like GOG where you’ll find versions of those games that work.”
The news means that certain versions of titles such as Grand Theft Auto III, The Sims and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 won’t run on the latest OS.
SafeDisc developer Rovi said of the news: Safedisc DRM hasn’t been supported for a few years now, and the driver has consequently not been updated for some time. Microsoft should have migrated the existing software since Windows 8. We don’t know if that’s still possible with Windows 10 or if they simply didn’t care about it.”
While frustrating for select owners of some titles, the moves will undoubtedly be welcomed by others. DRM is largely frowned on by the games community, and older examples in particular are quite draconian in their implementation.
It was reported yesterday that Microsoft’s new EULA allows Windows 10 to automatically deactivate any pirated games found on a user’s system.
UPDATE: Sony DADC has been in contact with MCV to deny that there are any problems with SecuROM. Director of business development and sales for games Wolfgang Fuchs stated: There are no known incompatibilities between any SecuROM versions and Windows 10.”
