Newell on PC DRM: "avoid" pitfalls because they're "negative"

Some plain speaking on the subject of DRM at GDC yesterday saw Valve boss Gabe Newell say restrictive policies are counter-intuitive.

“One thing that you hear us talk a lot about is entertainment as a service,” he said. “It’s an attitude that says ‘what have I done for my customers today?’

“It informs all the decisions we make, and once you get into that mindset it helps you avoid things like some of the Digital Rights Management problems that actually make your entertainment products worth less by wrapping those negatives around them.”

According to Develop, Newell's comments were greeted with cheers.

Ubisoft has become the latest company to fall foul of community rage over DRM, delivering a system alongside the PC versions of Assassin's Creed II and Silent Hunter 5 that demands the user maintain a solid internet connection at all times - or risk being cut out of the game.

Valve uses its proprietary Steam format to deliver its PC products.