At GDC2009, to reduce piracy, Microsoft has issued a new game mode.

Microsoft believes that: In the past, vendors of pirated for defense, use many technical. Not only that they may not be effective, but also greatly affect the player’s gaming experience. Microsoft’s proposed solution is to abandon the past, various encryption, and put the game up on the P2P network distribution, run the key at the same time also put up for sale on the network. Players can be installed at any place of the Games after key input to run the game. Such as at Internet cafes, and even Internet cafes are also possible use of P2P networks have already installed several games, players only need to enter key to run.

Microsoft believes that this approach has the following advantages: lower DRM technologies such as the controversies surrounding the protection; to protect the interests of the issue; player do not worry damage CD; with the convenience of cloud computing. Can be stored on the server to focus on the progress at any place can also inherit the progress of Games; can create new business models, such as DLC download.

Actually, Microsoft wanted to do the same as Steam, want to network distribution, online games landing approach to solve the piracy problem. However, in this way, should not the computer network will always be no possibility of the Games. To be sure, after the network of digital distribution will become more universal. Steam is no longer a single show, and will reduce the piracy problem may be.