Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood releasing on PC next month, ditching 'always-online' DRM

The good news out of Ubisoft today is that the PC version of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood has finally been given a solid release date - March 18. The great news is that the game won't feature the publisher's controversial 'always-online' DRM.

Ubisoft's old anti-piracy system required players to maintain constant internet connections, even during single-player sessions. Players with unstable or unavailable connections complained that the highly-restrictive system either detracted from, or completely nixed their enjoyment of legitimately-purchased games. Many have suggested that the system is so detrimental that it has encouraged piracy, despite being meant to curb it.

Speaking to vg24/7, a representative from Ubisoft confirmed today, "The PC version of Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood, after an initial login, will be playable offline in single player mode."

The change may not appease all consumers, some of whom won't be happy until the unlikely repeal of all DRM, but it should be good news for most of those who were burned by the old system. If you plan to play the game, please do everyone a favor and prove that highly-restrictive DRM isn't necessary by purchasing it legitimately. (No no, not you. We're talking to that guy. With the eye patch.)

All that aside, Ubisoft also sent out an unwieldy omnibus of PC release details today - apparently the company has reallocated some of its DRM development funds to the development of special editions. Here's the breakdown of the four PC packages, followed by the game's technical specs:

Standard Edition (retail and digital)
Main game + Abstergo Project Update 1.0 and 2.0 and The Da Vinci Disappearance

Codex Edition
This Limited and Exclusive Collector's Edition of Assassin's Creed Brotherhood will include a beautiful and detailed Renaissance style chest containing:

- Main game + Abstergo Project Update 1.0 and 2.0 and The Da Vinci Disappearance
- The Original Codex written by the hand of Altaïr: a quality 60 pages book revealing all the history of the Assassins and presenting the artworks of Assassin's Creed Brotherhood.
- A detailed map of ROME
- Multiplayer Characters Collectible Cards: a set of trade cards presenting all the characters of Assassin's Creed Brotherhood Multiplayer, their kill moves and biography
- Assassin's Creed Lineage DVD: discover the story of Giovanni Auditore, Ezio's father, by watching this three-part short movie.
- An exclusive Bonus DVD containing the Assassin's Creed Brotherhood original soundtrack, galleries...

Exclusive unlockable content:
- One Multiplayer Character: The Harlequin, a deadly assassin lying behind a gaudy costume and a twisted smiling mask
- One Multiplayer Character: The Officer, a stealthy assassin who can assassinate his targets with a swift and powerful attack
- One exclusive single player indoor map: The Trajan Market
- One exclusive single player outdoor map: The Aqueducts map
- Ezio "Drachen Armor"

Special Edition
This Special Edition comes in an exclusive Cold Foil Packaging and contains:
- Main game + Abstergo Project Update 1.0 and 2.0 and The Da Vinci Disappearance

Exclusive unlockable content:
- One Multiplayer Character: The Officer, a stealthy assassin who can assassinate his targets with a swift and powerful attack
- One exclusive single player indoor map: The Trajan Market

Digital Deluxe Edition
Main game + Abstergo Project Update 1.0 and 2.0 and The Da Vinci Disappearance
- Assassin's Creed Lineage: discover the story of Giovanni Auditore, Ezio's father, by watching this three episodes short movie.
- Exclusive additional content featuring the Assassin's Creed Brotherhood original soundtrack, galleries, Making-of Assassin's Creed Brotherhood...

Exclusive unlockable content:
- One Multiplayer Character: The Harlequin, a deadly assassin lying behind a gaudy costume and a twisted smiling mask
- One Multiplayer Character: The Officer, a stealthy assassin who can assassinate his targets with a swift and powerful attack
- One exclusive single player indoor map: The Trajan Market
- One exclusive single player outdoor map: The Aqueducts map
- Ezio "Drachen Armor"

Assassins Creed: Brotherhood PC technical specs

Minimum Configuration:
SUPPORTED OS: Windows XP (32 or 64 bit) /Windows Vista(32 or 64 bit)/Windows 7 (32 or 64 bit)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHZ or AMD Athlon X2 64 2.4GHZ
RAM: 1.5 GB Windows XP / 2 GB Windows Vista - Windows 7
Video Card: 256 MB DirectX 9.0-compliant card with Shader Model 3.0 or higher (see supported list)
Sound Card: DirectX 9.0 -compliant sound card
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0
DVD-ROM: DVD-ROM dual-layer drive
Hard Drive Space: 8 GB
Peripherals Supported: Keyboard, mouse, optional gamepad

* This product does not support Windows 98/ME/2000/NT

Recommended Configuration:
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6700 2.6 GHz or AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ or better
Video Card: GeForce 8800 GT or ATI Radeon HD 4700 or better
Sound: 5.1 sound card
Peripherals: Keyboard, mouse, joystick optional (Xbox 360 Controller for Windows recommended)

Supported Video Cards at Time of Release:
ATI RADEON X1950, HD 2000/3000/4000/5000 series
NVIDIA GeForce 7/8/9/100/200 series

Got all that?

Feb 22, 2011