Fortnite might include always-on DRM

Epic’s PC exclusive game might come with some conditions

Tarryn van der BylJuly 19, 2012

PC gamers have a lot to love about Epic Games’ co-op scavengin’, buildin’, zombie holocaust survivin’ game Fortnite – mostly because (for now, anyway) it’s a PC exclusive and nobody does those anymore so that’s a treat – but now they might have something to hate about it too. Sure, balance is good, but what about always-on DRM? Not so much, perhaps.

In an interview with Rock Paper Shotgun, producer Tanya Jessen admits that the studio hasn’t decided yet whether or not to use always-on DRM, but that if they did, it would totally be to make the game better (obviously) and besides, it’s a multiplayer game so you’d have to be online anyway (obviously).

“That’s something we don’t know yet. It’s gonna be really dependent on gameplay, and it’s also dependent on platform – the method of getting updates and stuff like that. So I can’t say for sure today one way or another [whether or not we're going to use it],” she said.

“Fortnite is a game that’s being developed as a co-op experience primarily. That’s our number one focus. This is a game you’re gonna want to play with your friends, and it’s most fun with your friends. So whatever we decide to do there is gonna be more relevant to the most fun experience you can have with your friends [than it is to piracy]. But I can’t nail that down today.”

So maybe, maybe not, and I guess we’ll have to wait to find out. Also, the word “draconian” because I didn’t use it anywhere else in the article.