PC Deus Ex OnLive code US only

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 25 August, 2011

GameStop pulls PC version from shelves.

PAL copies of Deus Ex: Human Revolution on PC will not include a free OnLive version of the game, Square Enix has confirmed to Eurogamer.

In the US the PC version of Deus Ex includes a code that lets you download the game for use on OnLive for free.

Yesterday it emerged that US shop GameStop told staff to open and remove the OnLive code from the game before selling as new.

Following a gamer outcry, GameStop pulled all regular edition PC copies from store shelves.

"As GameStop is developing a streaming service in our Spawn Labs Cloud Gaming Division, the coupon that was included is for a competitive service," read a memo sent out to employees acquired by Giant Bomb.

"We are returning all copies of the PC regular edition to the vendor in agreement with Square Enix."

Square Enix issued a formal apology to GameStop, saying sorry for not telling the shop about the code in advance of the game's launch.

"As part of Deus Ex: Human Revolution's boxed offering on PC, Square Enix included a third party coupon," Suare Enix said in a statement.

"GameStop was not made aware of this inclusion and Square Enix respects the right of GameStop to have final say over the contents of products it sells and to adjust them where they see fit in accordance with their policies.

"Square Enix invites gamers who want to purchase the PC version of Deus Ex: Human Revolution without additional coupons to buy the game at any one of over 4000 GameStop stores in North America or purchase a digital download copy online from www.gamestop.com."

Cloud gaming service OnLive is set to launch its UK service on 22nd September at Eurogamer Expo 2011.

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About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (27) Latest comment 9 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • NicolasVH #1 9 months ago

    So, just don't buy it at Gamestop then?

  • Subdominator #2 9 months ago

    I had hoped for a statement like "Square Enix says: Gamestop, go FU."

  • Steve2911 #3 9 months ago

    Once again, retailers terrified of digital distribution throw a tantrum to get what they want, hurting gamers in the process.

  • jaywalker3010 Verified Mastering Manager, Square Enix #4 9 months ago

    Onlive not `online` til next month in EU anyway :) so wouldnt be much use to people for a month
    Edited by jaywalker3010 at 25/08/11 @ 10:30

  • Xboxfanuk #5 9 months ago

    Gamestop wants no competing cloud services to compete with it's service. Sounds like Origins vs Steam and the other battles. Again service platform war is here. Retail is pretty much dead BTW no loss.

  • Snufkin #6 9 months ago

    WHERE'S THE HEAD-TO-HEAD YOU PROMISED US EG??!
    I'm on the cusp of ordering DE:HR and would very much appreciate DF's insight so I can choose which version to buy!

  • bad09 #7 9 months ago

    Shame I might have bought the PC version for next year and used the code for onlive for now. I was thinking over either a 360 purchase or onlive anyway and that would beat paying twice and a free full game test of onlives rentals.

    As for gamestop it's difficult, it's the same old story as steamworks games I can understand retailers point there to be honest you don't really want to sell products that point people to pay elsewhere (although taking codes out of games is real scummy they should have just no in the first place).

    Saying that I'm sure they don't mind this console DLC retailer exclusive stuff when it comes their way and sways people to them.

  • Seoh #8 9 months ago

    Weird that they throw such a wobbler about including a free onlive copy in a game that require Steam to even play. I would have though steam a bigger and more potent competitor than Onlive.

  • Darren #9 9 months ago

    @Snufkin - You don't need a Face-Off as there are comparison videos/articles on GameTrailers and Lens of Truth already. To sum up: the PC version is the one to get if you have a decent mid-range or higher machine followed by the console versions.

    Both the PS3 and Xbox 360 look practically identical, both use v-sync so no tearing, and the framerates look to be the same (30 fps). The only difference is slightly inferior anti-aliasing and SSAO on the PS3. The PS3 has quicker loading times by default, around 30 seconds, due to a mandatory 3 GB install where the Xbox 360 is almost 50% slower when ran off the disc. I presume it would load faster off the HDD once installed though and similar to the PS3 but have not seen a comparison to confirm that.

    Ultimately, it really comes down to which controller you prefer as the technical differences between the console versions are minimal.
    Edited by Darren at 25/08/11 @ 11:06

  • stoopidgreg #10 9 months ago

    "...lets you download the game for use on OnLive for free."

    Clearly not understanding the concept of cloud gaming :]

  • Darren #11 9 months ago

    Lens of Truth analysis: [link url=http://www.lensoftruth.com/head2head-deus-ex-human-revolution-analysis/
    ]http://www.lensoftruth.com/head2head-deu...[/link]

    GameTrailer's platform comparison video: [link url=http://www.gametrailers.com/video/platform-comparison-deus-ex/719681
    ]http://www.gametrailers.com/video/platfo...[/link]

    Not as informative as Digital Foundry, true, but they're here now! ;)

  • richarddavies #12 9 months ago

    Seems pointless them taking the code out for fear of it hurting there sales when people have to buy a physical copy to get it anyway.

  • bf #13 9 months ago

    This is getting properly silly. If digital distribution and streaming is supposed to be the future then all interested parties must stop messing things up for the consumer. If its not good for us we wont buy and then you will all fail!

  • asphaltcowboy #14 9 months ago

    Wesley, do you not even run spell-checker on your articles before they get posted?

    Who are Suare Enix?

  • Chibi-Kibou #15 9 months ago

    Beh, and here I was casually considering trying OnLive via buying DeusEx, too >.>

  • Monkeyspoon #16 9 months ago

    I hope digital foundry's head 2 head is more thorough than lens of truth. LoT only compared the beginning of the game. The 360 has framerate problems once you get into it. Overall the PS3 is the best console version.

  • Sanxo #17 9 months ago

    "respects the right of GameStop to have final say over the contents of products it sells"

    What the shuddering fuck? GameStop: GTFO.

  • Inmediasress #18 9 months ago

    This is what I warned about when EA started pushing its origin shit, that every game seller and his mother wants his own online shit service and while it is good to have adversity this kind of shit will hurt the costumer in the long run.
    Problem is the gaming industry isn't the same as making cars there should be some serious revision on trade laws that protect the customer more from abuse, because honestly one problem is that the entertainment industry is allowed to buttfuck everybody almost unpunished.
    Edited by Inmediasress at 25/08/11 @ 11:47

  • Snufkin #19 9 months ago

    @Darren - Thanks chief. I'd seen the Len of Truth one but it wasn't that informative, your summay was better! I like DF's analysis as it's always very in-depth. I was on the cusp of ordering the PS3 version until I read that R1 is the default for shooting and cannot be changed. I have the realtek triggers on my DS3 and HATE shooting with R1. Can anyone confirm if you can configure the controls on the PS3 version??

    So I've gone for the Xbox version instead, from Amazon.

    @Monkeyspoon - Xbox version has issue when you get in to it huh? Hmm....

    Edit: Nuts to it. I couldn't wait for the head-to-head and just jogged down to Asda and picked it up on PS3 for £33.87, result. Decision made at last! Now I bet DF slates the PS3 version.....

    Edited by Snufkin at 26/08/11 @ 13:45

  • synte #20 9 months ago

    ehm
    When it comes to PC, PAL does not exist. PAL is also disappearing, in TV's.

  • obscured021 #21 9 months ago

    Onlive is working on this side of the world, im in ireland and it works great with only a small amount of lag now and then, id like an on live copy of the game also so i can play it at work.

    I have a 100mb line at home and you almost get the same performance on a slow 5-10 mb line, i can see this being the future of gaming when we are all on 1GB lines
    Edited by obscured021 at 25/08/11 @ 12:01

  • Monkeyspoon #22 9 months ago

    @snufkin. Yes the 360 has framerate issues. Gamespot even said they were distracting as it happens whenever you turn around.

  • Negotiator1 #23 9 months ago

    Got Deus EX on steam pre downloaded and ready to go at 12 tonight, had no intention of getting this until the reviews started coming in. When Edge gives a game a 9 its hard to resist, I'm expecting something very special. As for Onlive, only when it can match the quality of playing on a decent rig at home will I consider it, but now ain't that time.

  • WJF #24 9 months ago

    I downloaded the client the other day and had a quick go on AAAaaaAAAaa (that indie title - I'm not trying to recreate a Monty Python joke)

    Graphics quality is poor in that it looks like compressed video (which it is). So if you're used to calling your PC a 'rig', and covertly scanning the hardware sites for benchmark reviews at work it probably isn't for you.

    On the bright side, the lag was minimal and the game ran really well on my 10mbps cable line. Looking forward to playing it on the iPad later in the year (doesn't make sense for me to use it for my rig)
    Edited by WJF at 25/08/11 @ 13:33

  • P1GEONPOO #25 9 months ago

    I would of said if youve opened them you will have to pay for them.

  • cyber_nicco #26 9 months ago

    Gamestop sucks and should be punished.

    BTW, I bought the digital version from Amazon for $39.99 instead of on Steam for $49.99. This is cool as it's the Steam version anyway...

    Amazon is the only other place besides Steam that I buy digital copies of games. I just like that they offer really good deals...

  • shadowdogg #27 9 months ago

    lol. Yeah fuck Gamestop then...