Deus Ex: Human Revolution free OnLive code in PC retail copies

Cloud gaming service OnLive bills itself as a revolutionary step in gaming technology, and wants to show you its vision of the future with a very fitting promotion. Retail PC copies of cyberpunk RPG Deus Ex: Human Revolution include a code for a free copy of the full game on OnLive, letting you jack into it from online terminals and datapads.

This is "the first video game disc packaged with a free cloud gaming copy," according to OnLive president Steve Perlman--and what better game to start with?

"Gamers get the best of both worlds--a physical copy for their home PC and an OnLive cloud gaming copy for instant-play anywhere on an HDTV, PC, Mac, and soon iPad and Android tablets," Perlman said. "Having the option of local or cloud gaming provides unprecedented value and convenience that has never before been available for high-performance AAA titles."

Now, if the OnLive edition can access saved games stored online in the Steam Cloud, letting you play on your beefy gaming PC then continue on your netbook, that'd be truly futuristic. Shacknews has contacted OnLive to find out whether this is the case.

Deus Ex: Human Revolution launched yesterday in North America on PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and will spread across Europe later this week. How is it? Read our review to find out.