Good news GTA fans, it seems as though Grand Theft Auto IV will make use of everyone's favorite DRM software, SecuROM! However, before you get all up in arms over this, you may want to see the details of what to expect from GTA4's DRM.
You will only "need" to be online for the first authentication section. After that, unless you make use of the game's multiplayer component or any of the Games for Windows Live features, or the video uploading feature, you will not need to have an active internet connection to play.
More details can be found at IGN.
Does GTA IV include any version of SecuROM? If so, what kind? Is it like a rootkit?Additionally, they say that you will only need to authenticate once per Windows account per machine. There are extreme circumstances where reauthentication will be needed, but this is only for when two major components are changed in a Windows machine or installing the game on a different machine.
Rockstar: GTA IV PC uses SecuROM for protecting our EXE until street date has passed, to ensure the retail disk is in the computer drive, and is used for Product Activation of the title. Product Activation is a one time only online authentication when installing the game. GTA IV has no install limits for the retail disc version of the game, and that version can be installed on an unlimited number of PCs by the retail disk owner.
You will only "need" to be online for the first authentication section. After that, unless you make use of the game's multiplayer component or any of the Games for Windows Live features, or the video uploading feature, you will not need to have an active internet connection to play.
More details can be found at IGN.