Alpha Protocol PC DRM Explained, Will Be Removed Eventually

Publisher Sega has explained the ins and outs of the 'Uniloc: SoftAnchor' DRM scheme chosen for Obsidian Entertainment's espionage RPG Alpha Protocol, covering what it means for players and revealing plans to eventually remove the DRM altogether.

Uniloc: SoftAnchor will allow five active installations of Alpha Protocol at any given time, which can be deactivated either by uninstalling them or via a website. Online activation will be required only when the game is first installed, with the option to activate by "saving a file and transporting it to the computer that does have web access."

"We take your rights as a consumer very seriously, so we will provide a version of the game without license management (available as a patch) in around 18-24 months after release," assures Sega. "We can't be specific about the exact date due to business factors, but rest assured that we will provide an unprotected patch."

Alpha Protocol is slated for a PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 release on June 1 in North America, after hitting Australia on May 27 then Europe on May 28. As ever, retailers are offering their own exclusive pre-order bonuses, including in-game weapons and items.