In a surprising move, online game distributor Direct2Drive has come out saying they don't intend to carry the Activision and Infinity Ward title Modern Warfare 2 when it's released next week. Though the game has been the source of controversy from everything like stunted PC playability compared to the console version, unsettling sequences of the game requiring you to gun down civilian NPCs, and even the recent public service announcement, this new development appears to be because Modern Warfare 2 requires the use of Steam to be installed.
On the one hand I'm not surprised that Direct2Drive chooses not to stock a product which requires the software of a direct competitor to use. However, I think their rationality for this is more than a little disingenuous:
At Direct2Drive, we believe strongly that when you buy a game from us, you shouldn't be forced to install and run a 3rd party software client to be able to play the game you purchased. Because COD MW 2 requires you, the consumer, to do that, we aren't able to offer the game via Direct2Drive at this time.
I can point to any number of titles on Direct2Drive that require additional third party software to run (from Games for Windows Live to PhysX to even DirectX), to say nothing of the fact that the majority of titles on their store also include invasive and annoying DRM like SecuROM which persists on a customer's computer long after the product has been uninstalled. There's never been an issue with this before, so I personally have a hard time swallowing this "We're just thinking of you guys!" line. Customers looking to purchase the game are helpfully provided an Amazon link to a boxed copy– though I suspect most people who are looking for it at a digital-only place like Direct2Drive would probably benefit more from being sent to that other place that's stocking it, hmm.
To make up for any inconvenience, they've provided a $5 coupon for any select Activision title from now through November.
Update: Since originally writing this entry, both Impulse and GamersGate have come out saying they will also not stock the title because of the same concerns as Direct2Drive.
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