I’m pretty sure the steamworks makes it nearly imposable for a cracked version of a game to come out before it’s realised on steam as game files are encrypted and key content is missing from preloads and game disks. Proof that the only effective DRM is DRM that makes a product unusable. I would need to look this up to be sure but that is my current understanding.

Once a game is available on steam it will most likely be cracked with in a day but at that point steam as done it’s main job, to stop pirates getting their hands on a game before it’s out. Which is actually a major thing in a world where not only can people get a game for free but they could be playing it before any one willing to pay would be able to do so.

DRM is not so much about actually stopping pirates but about the fact that publishers often have to ensure their shareholders that they are doing something about them there evil pirate types. Valve would never ever have gotten steam off of the ground if it hadn’t come with a set of DRM. With out steam getting off the ground DRM free services like good old games wouldn’t have had a look in and even then GOG is doing well more out of a the fact that the industry is very slowly being brought around to the idea that it’s better to see pirate copies of the game then turn away consumers who might buy it.

The fact that people calling steams DRM one that works even when it’s crackable is reflective of the fact that DRM is an issue of degrees. How much protection does it offer vs how much restriction does it impose and steam has struck a balance that works for most publishers and most gamers mainly by seeking to offset the problems of DRM through adding other value via the use of steam.

I actually think that valve would happily and effectively DRM free if they could but in the current clement it wouldn’t go down well with a lot of publishers. Even if valve only went DRM on their own games it would require the ground work for such a system be put in place in steam and publishers would see that as a move by valve to pushing this issue in the market they currently dominate. Which would have publishers fighting back hugely and could easily sink steam.

Steam is proof that DRM that offers some effectiveness in publishers eyes can be accepted by a user base because it adds value. In fact people value steam as a service so much they are often willing to rebuy games on steam they already own in another format just to have them on the service.

It’s not ideal but I firmly believe that if some one other than valve had pushed the DD market first we’d all be far worse off.