The Network Effect described the the GNU Project is when individuals will submit themselves to nonfree and DRM’d software simply in order to socially connect with others. Messaging apps are the textbook example, but video games are as well.

Of course the defense is always a form of apathy or some call to apathy like stating that more people indulge in the activity than those who actively abstain. Of course there is an implicit shaming tactic of those who preserve their freedom, calling them the “frigid minority” or the “isolated zealots”

Shame on you for being so closed minded. The spread of DRM is never okay under any scenario, just because you have some perceived FOMO. There are thousands of multiplayer games out there that don’t have DRM rootkits, why not try to play those with your friends instead?

Whatever you say, at least I’m not the one advocating for people to install spyware from any Tom, Dick and Harry that claims it will “fix cheating”

The other solution is to simply not play those games. It’s bad enough that the game itself is nonfree, but if it has DRM/relies on a nonfree network service then it should be ostracized.

But those things require having a spine, so I doubt you’d like them.

Or you could just stop playing these predatory games? Literally condemn them and move on.

I don’t think its nice to be constantly treated like an inferior by corporate suits who see you as a pig to be exploited for cash.

Yeah no thanks I don’t think companies should hand out rootkits to unsuspecting users.

Of course this is capitalist laziness that will envelop the entire proprietary games industry, the only way to kick out cheaters is better net code and actually scaled moderation, but those things cost money and maintnence (as well as dedicated playerbase).

To think otherwise is to boot lick these multi-million dollar corporations.