Dragon Age won't use SecuROM DRM

Dragon Age: Origins will use a simple disc check instead of SecuROM digital rights management, BioWare has said.

"We're happy to announce that the boxed/retail PC version of Dragon Age: Origins will use only a basic disk check and it will not require online authentication," writes community manager Chris Priestly on the official forum.

"In other words, the retail PC version of the game won't require you to go online to authenticate the game for offline play. We have chosen not to use SecuROM in any version of Dragon Age that is distributed by EA or BioWare."

BioWare used SecuROM to protect the PC version of Mass Effect from pirates, but soon watered down the authentication measures because of negative feedback. EA has used SecuROM often, but also came under fire from the Spore community for limiting how many times a person could install their paid-for copy of the game.

Meanwhile, BioWare's Twitter reveals that the dark fantasy RPG is using 144 voice actors to bring the script to life.

The company released a beta version of the Dragon Age toolset for fans to test out recently, and assures us this is merely one of the ways Dragon Age in which will expand once it's on the market this autumn.

"We'll also be supporting the game with a ton of great downloadable content that will be available for purchase after the game's release. Together these features will provide some very cool reasons to go online with Dragon Age: Origins."