Published December 2023

My loss of trust in DRM and irreversible game updates

With Steam, you need to pray your games don't get destroyed with updates due to being unable to play older versions of games.

Steam

• Lack of support for older proprietary operating systems because of Chromium no longer supporting them.

This is important for compatibility for old games that do not work with comparability layers.

• Ability for game developers to completely disable demos.

Downloaded a demo from a Steam Fest and don't have time to play it? Too bad. Most of time developers choose to time-gate demos through Steam. If not Steam, they use their own DRM. I honestly don't understand why, they don't come back and there is no way to see if you like the game unless you rely on refunds being processed or pirating.

Yooka-Laylee

Claimed it for free from Epic Games Store (used Heroic Games Launcher - highly recommended). Game tries to open a window in your web browser to get past the title screen which didn't work for me. I had to crack my own game to be able to play it. You know you've failed when pirates get a better experience than "owners" of the game.

Counter-Strike Global Offensive

This game isn't as bad as you can opt into the pre-Counter Strike 2 version of the game. If you want to play matchmaking on pre-Windows 10 or Mac then you're out of luck.

Previous paid games turned free to play

Overwatch

An obvious one, 1 is now completely unplayable. I should have expected it from an online only game.

Awesomenauts

Made free to play, forced tutorial for previous owners, very different experience. Money wasted.

Blade Symphony

Made free to play, micro transactions added. Money wasted.

Removed content/censorship

N++

Removed music tracks due to copyright running out. Not the first time this has happened to this game.

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/230270/view/5541164109853249069

Skullgirls

DLC's outright removed, animation frames censored almost a decade after release due to new IP owners.

Old games turned into advertisements

Very common within Steam game's news

Beat Hazard (1)

Updates purely to advertise Beat Hazard 2 and 3 on the menu and exit screen

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/49600/view/3484125695444520762

Conclusion

All of these incidences helped me to be aware of the importance of DRM-free games, and also the Steam Deck. A portable device that will go offline a lot of the time will make you despise DRM.