Shadowrun Returns, the successfully Kickstarted, isometric RPG that Harebrained Schemes is bringing to the PC and mobile platforms, has run into a bit of a snag.
It turns out that, while backers who paid for the tier of the game that included a DRM-free release of the game will receive exactly that, the DRM-free edition of Shadowrun Returns will lack compatibility with future DLC and other such updates to the game. It will provide access only to the base game and some user-created content.
The issue falls to the fine print in the studio’s license with Microsoft. It demands that the game and its DLC be distributed under DRM. In this case, the DRM is Steam, and those who receive a DRM-free copy will also get a Steam code, but this falls short of the campaign’s original promise that a DRM-free version of the game would be available from the company’s website, and also sours the experience for those who do have the DRM-free version, since future updates to the game will not be available to them. Note that these limitations will not stop Harebrained Schemes from releasing manual patches and bugfixes for the DRM-free version, which they intend to do, but any post-Berlin Campaign DLC will only be available through Steam.
Source: Kickstarter