RAGE Release Details August 13, 2011

In the aftermath of Quakecon 2011 some important information about RAGE has been released, particularly about the game’s release details.

The PC version of RAGE will use Steamworks.  A lot of people think this is just used as a Digital Rights Management system, but in truth Steamworks offers the players a DRM that enhances functionality opposed to traditional DRM, which takes those rights away.  Unlike DRM, Steamworks games by default do not have an installation limit.  You will be able to install games on as many systems as you wish for as long as you want.  Heck, you can lose your original CD/DVD AND your install key and still be able to install and play the game on any computer with an internet connection.  Other Steamworks features that are possible for the game’s release but not confirmed for RAGE include cloud saves which can be shared across computers, in-game achievements, and a multiplayer browser.

New copies of RAGE will also come with unlock codes for sewer transit.  Sewer transit is a feature of the game separate from the main plotline.  Without a download code, you will not be able to use this functionality, and could possibly have to purchase it through your platform’s marketplace.  This is in a similar vein to putting in arbitrary restrictions in copies of the game to prevent used sales.  Most of the time they remove access to the multiplayer component of the game and charge extra for people who purchase used copies of the game to regain that access.  They said they chose to remove sewer access because it was a feature most people didn’t use in testing, and didn’t take away from the main plotline.  Still, this anti-used campaign in general has been a really bad idea across the board and I really wish publishers would stop doing this.  If they want to promote buying new copies of games, the best option is to do what Remedy did with Alan Wake and offer free advance download codes for upcoming DLC bundled with all new copies of a game.

RAGE will release for PC, Xbox 360 and PS3 in October, 2011.