Game Design Reducing PC Piracy "Inflating Identity Theft"

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Game Review

The PC Gaming Alliance president says that game design is reducing piracy, while also increasing the instances of online identity theft. New PC Gaming Alliance president Matt Ployhar recently spoke to Gamasutra about the current state of the PC gaming industry. Ployhar points out that MMOs and free-to-play games are much harder to pirate than single-player titles. 

The increase in these kinds of titles and bonuses is actually decreasing PC piracy, Ployhar believes. "So what's happening is game design is shifting and as a result of shifting game design, piracy, at least on the PC side, is actually declining as a result," he says. 

The PC is the most famous format when it comes to videogame piracy. "There are stats that do corroborate that," claimed PCGA president Matt Ployhar. For example, you get a game like Crysis that got hit hard by piracy. "So even if you pirate the game you're still not getting the bragging rights. I think the use of Achievements and in-game content has definitely been effective in battling piracy to some extent, and it's something I applaud. 

Just days after the PC version of high-profile shooter Crysis 2 was leaked onto the internet, forcing developer Crytek to issue a statement that said "piracy continues to damage the PC packaged goods market and the PC development community", one group has claimed PC game piracy is actually on the decline. 

"In some cases the crack was done days before the game ever even hit retail shelves. You can't really pirate free to play. So what's happening is game design is shifting and as a result of shifting game design, piracy, at least on the PC side, is actually declining as a result." 

Following Crytek 2's leak online the game industry made its anti-piracy stance clear. The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment (UKIE) told Eurogamer piracy "poses a very real threat to the UK's games industry". 

For example, you get a game like Crysis that got hit hard by piracy. "So even if you pirate the game you're still not getting the bragging rights. Digital rights management is one method game publishers use to try to protect their games from piracy. 

By. Game Review