I believe it doesn't

by narcogen , Andover, Massachusetts, Thursday, March 21, 2013, 23:48 (4273 days ago) @ Dean Hofmeyer (unhh)

DRM is anything that is in place to actively restrict you from using the game on a system capable of executing the game code.

That's a fairly valid - though incomplete - definition, but it doesn't match up with what we know about Destiny. The game's always-online state is to allow the player access to the persistent world. It's an integral part of the game's functionality, not a restrictive measure.

Imagine the following scenario:

Your console is flagged as banned on XBL. You have a real copy of the game and a real xbox, however MS won't let you connect to the server to play Destiny. Since connecting is required to play Destiny, then Microsoft is actively restricting your use of the game. DRM.

That's not DRM, that's a banned box.

Yes, it is DRM. When you combine the XBL ban (regardless of the reason) with Destiny's online requirement, you have DRM-- a software restriction put in place to prevent you from doing something you'd otherwise be able to do.

A modded console cannot be used to play a pirate copy of Destiny, for instance, because you can't keep the system offline, and once you're online, the system will detect you and the game will shutdown. (In theory.)

In practice, of course, all it means is another hoop. Someone will figure out how it works, and the process of hacking/copying the game and modding the console will be extended to include telling the game it's OK to run even offline. Since we already know you'll be able to play Destiny solo, you won't actually be forced to use any of the online features.

If you're playing Destiny without using those features, the only thing the "always online" functionality does is... work as DRM. Until it's defeated. After that, all it does is inconvenience those who paid full price to play on a legitimate console. Those who pirated the game and play on a modded console, as usual, will barely notice.