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<title>Malware in Games
- GNU Project - Free Software Foundation</title>
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<div id="last-div" class="reduced-width"> (追記ここまで)
<h2>Malware in Games</h2>
(削除) <p><a href="/proprietary/proprietary.html">Other examples of proprietary
malware</a></p> (削除ここまで)
<div (削除) class="highlight-para">
<p>
<em>Malware</em> means (削除ここまで) (追記) class="infobox">
<hr class="full-width" />
<p>Nonfree (proprietary) (追記ここまで) software (削除) designed (削除ここまで) (追記) is very often malware (designed (追記ここまで) to (削除) function in ways that (削除ここまで)
mistreat (削除) or harm (削除ここまで) the (削除) user. (This does not include accidental errors.)
</p>
<p>
Malware and nonfree (削除ここまで) (追記) user). Nonfree (追記ここまで) software (追記) is controlled by its developers,
which puts them in a position of power over the users; <a
href="/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">that is the
basic injustice</a>. The developers and manufacturers often exercise
that power to the detriment of the users they ought to serve.</p>
<p>This typically takes the form of malicious functionalities.</p>
<hr class="full-width" />
</div>
<div class="article">
<p>Among the numerous malicious functionalities that (追記ここまで) are (追記) found in games,
<strong><a href="/proprietary/proprietary-addictions.html#addictiveness">
addictiveness</a></strong> may be the worst, because it doesn't only affect users
materially, but also psychologically.</p>
<div class="important">
<p>If you know of an example that ought to be in this page but isn't
here, please write
to <a href="mailto:webmasters@gnu.org"><webmasters@gnu.org></a>
to inform us. Please include the URL of a trustworthy reference or (追記ここまで) two
(追記) to serve as specific substantiation.</p>
</div>
<div class="column-limit" id="malware-games"></div>
<ul class="blurbs">
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M202505150">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2025-05</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Denuvo is a digital restrictions management (DRM) system that is
integrated into the code of some PC games, as an “anti-piracy
solution.” But what Denuvo does, really, is to make the games <a
href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/">Defective by design</a>.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="https://whyisdenuvobad.github.io/">It
requires periodic connection to the Denuvo servers</a>,
even for games that can be played locally. As a result, <a
href="https://www.pcgamer.com/a-great-day-for-drm-as-denuvo-lapse-renders-tons-of-games-temporarily-unplayable/">
a number of games became unplayable</a> when these servers stopped
working.</li>
<li><a
href="https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2025/05/denuvo-will-lock-you-out-of-games-on-linux-steamos-steam-deck-if-you-keep-changing-proton-versions/page=2/">
It limits the number of operating systems a game can be played
on</a>. This affects GNU/Linux users who try (追記ここまで) different (削除) issues. The difference
between (削除ここまで) (追記) versions of
the Proton compatibility layer to play a game made for Windows.</li>
<li><a
href="https://www.howtogeek.com/400126/what-is-denuvo-and-why-do-gamers-hate-it/">
It has a detrimental effect on game performance</a>.</li>
</ul>
<p>Of course, gamers hate Denuvo. But hate is useless. They should go
one step further, and stop buying games that use DRM.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M202505100">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2025-05</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Nintendo has been known to <a
href="/proprietary/malware-games.html#M201410130">remotely brick
the Wii</a> until users consented to new, more restrictive legal
terms. This company is now pushing tyranny even further: in the
2025 update of its User Account Agreement, it warns that (追記ここまで) <a (削除) href="/philosophy/free-sw.html">free software</a> (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://www.eurogamer.net/nintendo-reserves-the-right-to-brick-your-console-following-unauthorised-use-in-bid-to-prevent-piracy">
Switch consoles may be <em>permanently</em> bricked if they are
not used as authorized</a>.</p>
<p>In addition, Nintendo can record audio (追記ここまで) and
(削除) nonfree software (削除ここまで) (追記) video chats for
moderation purposes. User's consent is required, but there (追記ここまで) is (追記) no
guarantee that the recordings will not be sent to third parties.
In short, there is no privacy in these chats.</p>
<p>If you ever consider buying a Switch, think twice, because you
will not own it. Nintendo will.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit (追記ここまで) in (追記) malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M202411110">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2024-11</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Ubisoft is facing a fraud lawsuit for (追記ここまで) <a
(削除) href="/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">
whether (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://www.polygon.com/gaming/476979/ubisoft-the-crew-shut-down-lawsuit-class-action">
shutting down (追記ここまで) the (追記) proprietary video game The Crew, which was tethered
to its servers</a>. As this game can't be played offline, people who
used to think they owned a copy of it are now realizing they only
bought a license that could be revoked at will by the developer.</p>
<p>This is one more example of what tethering of a proprietary program
leads to. If The Crew were free software, its (追記ここまで) users (追記) would be able to
set up another server, and keep on playing.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M202312040">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2023-12</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Bungie's Destiny 2 is plagued with two major flaws:</p>
<ul>
<li>Like all proprietary tethered games, <a
href="https://destinytracker.com/destiny-2/articles/is-destiny-2-down-how-to-check-server-maintenance-and-downtime">
it can't be played when the company's servers are offline</a>.</li>
<li>Ever since Bungie chose BattlEye as an anti-cheat program,
Destiny 2 has been <a href="https://areweanticheatyet.com/">
incompatible with GNU/Linux</a> <small>[this page can't be viewed
without JavaScript]</small>. Bungie forces Steam Deck users
to <a href="https://www.pcguide.com/steam-deck/play-destiny-2/">
replace SteamOS with Windows, or play from Edge browser</a>.
This doesn't (追記ここまで) have (追記) to be so, as several other games that use BattlEye
do support GNU/Linux systems. Rather than doing the necessary
adjustments, Bungie forces users to run nonfree software in order to
keep an absolute (追記ここまで) control (追記) over them.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M202301230">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2023-01</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>A dispute between Blizzard and one of its partners caused <a
href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/23/world-of-warcraft-offline-china-millions-gamers-bereft">
World of Warcraft to go offline in China</a>. The shutdown may not be
permanent, but even if it is not, the fact that a business disagreement
can stop all users in China from playing the game illustrates the
injustice (追記ここまで) of (追記) requiring the use of a specific server.</p>
<p>We expect that users must pay to use that server, but whether that
is the case is a side issue. Even if use of that server is gratis,
the harm comes from the fact that (追記ここまで) the program (削除) or vice versa</a>. It's (削除ここまで) (追記) doesn't allow people
to make and use other servers for that job.</p>
<p>Let's hope game fans in China learn the importance of <a
href="https://gnu.org/philosophy/nonfree-games.html">rejecting nonfree
games</a>.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do (追記ここまで) not (削除) directly (削除ここまで) (追記) edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M202010221">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2020-10</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Microsoft is imposing its
surveillance on the game of Minecraft by <a
href="https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/22/21527647/minecraft-microsoft-account-mojang-java">requiring
every player to open an account on Microsoft's network</a>. Microsoft
has bought the game and will merge all accounts into its network,
which will give them access to people's data.</p>
<p>Minecraft players <a
href="https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Minetest">can play Minetest</a>
instead. The essential advantage of Minetest is that it is free
software, meaning it respects the user's computer freedom. As (追記ここまで) a (削除) question (削除ここまで) (追記) bonus,
it offers more options.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M202010220">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2020-10</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>The addictive Genshin Impact relentlessly <a
href="https://www.theguardian.com/games/2020/oct/22/genshin-impact-video-game-slowly-taking-over-the-world">coerces
players to spend money by overwhelming the game play with loot
boxes</a>.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M202010210">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2020-10</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>As (追記ここまで) of (削除) what (削除ここまで) (追記) 2019-2020, Minecraft players are <a
href="https://www.minecraft.net/en-us/article/java-edition-moving-house">being
forced to move to Microsoft servers</a>, which results in
privacy violation. Microsoft publishes a program so users can run
their own server, but (追記ここまで) the program (削除) <em>does</em> when (削除ここまで) (追記) is proprietary and it's another <a
href="/philosophy/free-software-even-more-important.html">injustice
to users</a>.</p>
<p>People can play <a
href="https://directory.fsf.org/wiki/Minetest">Minetest</a>
instead. Minetest is free software and respects the user's computer
freedom.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M202004150">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2020-04</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Riot Games' new anti-cheat is malware; <a
href="https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/309320-riot-games-new-anti-cheat-system-runs-at-system-boot-uses-kernel-driver">runs
on system boot at kernel level</a> on Windows. It is insecure software
that increases the attack surface of the operating system.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M202003110">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2020-03</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Roblox (among many other games)
created anti-features which sucker children into <a
href="https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/mar/11/my-kids-spent-600-on-their-ipads-without-my-knowledge">
utilizing third-party payment services without authorization.</a></p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201908210">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2019-08</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Microsoft recorded users of Xboxes and had <a
href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/43kv4q/microsoft-human-contractors-listened-to-xbox-owners-homes-kinect-cortana">
human workers listen to the recordings</a>.</p>
<p>Morally, we see no difference between having human workers listen and
having speech-recognition systems listen. Both intrude on privacy.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201907090">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2019-07</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Resourceful children figured out how to <a
href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-48908766"> empty their
parents' bank account</a> buying packs of special players for an
Electronic Arts soccer game.</p>
<p>The random element of these packs (also called “loot
boxes”) makes the game <a
href="/proprietary/proprietary-addictions#addictiveness">
strongly addictive</a>, but the fact that players
are pressured to spend more in order to get ahead of their
competitors further qualifies (追記ここまで) it
(削除) runs. However, (削除ここまで) (追記) as <em>predatory</em>.
Note that Belgium <a
href="https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/fifa-ultimate-team-packs-blocked-in-belgium">
made these loot boxes illegal</a> (追記ここまで) in (削除) practice nonfree (削除ここまで) (追記) 2018.</p>
<p>The only good reason to have a copy of such a proprietary
game is to study it for free (追記ここまで) software (追記) development.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201809210">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2018-09</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Clash of Clans (追記ここまで) is (削除) often malware, because (削除ここまで) (追記) a good example of a gratis mobile game that its
developers <a href="https://gamerant.com/clash-of-clans-addiction/">
made very addictive</a> for a large proportion of its users—and
turned into a cash machine for themselves—by using <a
href="/proprietary/proprietary-addictions.html#addictiveness">
psychological manipulation techniques</a>.</p>
<p><small>(The article uses “free” to mean “zero
price,” which is a usage we should avoid. We recommend saying
“gratis” instead.)</small></p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201809170">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2018-09</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Clash Royale is an online game with an “optimized”
<a href="/proprietary/proprietary-addictions.html#gacha">
<i>gacha</i></a> system that makes it <a
href="https://medium.com/@nikmlnkr/what-makes-clash-royale-so-addictive-1e586815b1f0">
very addictive for players</a>, and very profitable for its
developers.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201807310">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2018-07</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>A nonfree video game, available through (追記ここまで) the (削除) developer's awareness (削除ここまで) (追記) nonfree Steam client, <a
href="https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/274552-great-now-games-are-hijacking-systems-with-cryptocurrency-miners">
included a “miner”</a>, i.e. an executable (追記ここまで) that (追記) hijacks (追記ここまで)
the (追記) CPU in users' computers to mine a cryptocurrency.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201807110">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2018-07</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Nintendo has devoted a lot of effort to <a
href="https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2018/07/nintendo-reportedly-rolling-out-new-more-hack-proof-switch-hardware/">
preventing (追記ここまで) users (削除) would be powerless (削除ここまで) (追記) from installing third-party software on its Switch
consoles</a>. These are now full-blown jails.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201806250">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2018-06</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>The game Metal Gear Rising for
MacOS was tethered (追記ここまで) to (削除) fix any
malicious functionalities tempts (削除ここまで) (追記) a server. The company <a
href="https://www.gamerevolution.com/news/400087-metal-gear-rising-mac-unplayable-drm">
shut down (追記ここまで) the (削除) developer (削除ここまで) (追記) server, and all copies stopped working</a>.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201806240">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2018-06</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Red Shell is a spyware that
is found in many proprietary games. It <a
href="https://nebulous.cloud/threads/red-shell-illegal-spyware-for-steam-games.31924/">
tracks data on users' computers and sends it (追記ここまで) to (削除) impose some.
</p>
</div>
<p>Here (削除ここまで) (追記) third parties</a>.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201804144">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2018-04</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>ArenaNet surreptitiously installed a spyware
program along with an update to the massive
multiplayer game Guild Wars 2. The spyware allowed ArenaNet <a
href="https://techraptor.net/gaming/news/arenanet-used-spyware-anti-cheat-for-guild-wars-2-banwave">
to snoop on all open processes running on its user's computer</a>.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201712060">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2017-12</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Learn how <a
href="https://web.archive.org/web/20170319013045/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/joseph-farrell/the-fascinating-psycholog_b_6076502.html">
gratis-to-play-and-not-win-much games manipulate their useds
psychologically</a>.</p>
<p>These manipulative behaviors (追記ここまで) are (削除) examples (削除ここまで) (追記) malicious functionalities, and they
are possible because the game is proprietary. If it were free, people
could publish a non-manipulative version and play that instead.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201711070">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2017-11</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>The driver for a certain gaming keyboard <a
href="https://thehackernews.com/2017/11/mantistek-keyboard-keylogger.html">sends
information to China</a>.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201612290">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2016-12</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>In the game Fruit Pop, the player buys boosts with coins to get
a high score. The player gets coins at the end (追記ここまで) of (削除) malware (削除ここまで) (追記) each game, and can
buy more coins with real money.</p>
<p>Getting a higher score once leads the player to desire higher
score again later. But the higher score resulting from the boost <a
href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250226101225/https://qz.com/873348/50000-coins-for-1-99-how-mobile-game-in-app-purchases-are-warping-kids-understanding-of-basic-economic-ideas">does
not give the player more coins, and does not help the player get
a higher score (追記ここまで) in (削除) games.</p>
<ul>
<li><p>nVidia's (削除ここまで) (追記) subsequent games</a>. To get that, the player
will need a boost frequently, and usually has to pay real money
for that. Since boosts are exciting and entertaining, the player is
subtly pushed to purchase more coins with real money to get boosts,
and it can develop into a costly habit.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201611070">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2016-11</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>nVidia's (追記ここまで) proprietary GeForce Experience <a (削除) href="http://www.gamersnexus.net/industry/2672-geforce-experience-data-transfer-analysis">makes (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://www.gamersnexus.net/industry/2672-geforce-experience-data-transfer-analysis">makes (追記ここまで)
users identify themselves and then sends personal data about them to
nVidia servers</a>.</p>
</li>
(削除) <li><p>Modern (削除ここまで)
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201609240">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2016-09</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>A Capcom's Street Fighter V update <a
href="https://www.theregister.com/2016/09/23/capcom_street_fighter_v/">
installed a driver that could be used as a back door by
any application installed on a Windows computer</a>, but was <a
href="https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/street-fighter-v-removes-new-anti-crack">
immediately rolled back</a> in response to public outcry.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201605200">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2016-05</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Oculus Rift games now have <a
href="https://www.vice.com/en/article/vv77ea/new-oculus-drm-cross-platform">
DRM meant to prevent running them on other systems</a>.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201604040">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2016-04</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Many popular mobile games include a random-reward system called
<a href="/proprietary/proprietary-addictions.html#gacha">
<i>gacha</i></a> which is especially effective on
children. One variant of gacha was declared illegal in Japan in 2012,
but the other variants are still <a
href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/olliebarder/2016/04/04/japanese-mobile-gaming-still-cant-shake-off-the-spectre-of-exploitation/">
luring players into compulsively spending</a> inordinate amounts of
money on virtual toys.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201603060">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2016-03</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Electronic Arts <a
href="https://techraptor.net/gaming/news/darkspore-servers-shut-down">made
one of its games permanently unplayable</a> by shutting down its
servers. This game was heavily reliant on the company's servers,
and because the software is proprietary, users can't modify it to
make it connect to some other server. If the game were free, people
could still play what they purchased.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201512290">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2015-12</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Many <a
href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240114145409/https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/video-game-companies-are-collecting-massive-amounts-of-data-about-you/article_31fba9a3-2760-57ae-9ae0-4083904bcb87.html">
video game consoles snoop on their users and report to the
internet</a>—even what their users weigh.</p>
<p>A game console is a computer, and you can't trust a computer with
a nonfree operating system.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201509160">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2015-09</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Modern (追記ここまで) gratis game cr…apps <a (削除) href="http://toucharcade.com/2015/09/16/we-own-you-confessions-of-a-free-to-play-producer/"> (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://web.archive.org/web/20250531221340/https://toucharcade.com/2015/09/16/we-own-you-confessions-of-a-free-to-play-producer/"> (追記ここまで)
collect a wide range of data about their users and their users'
friends and associates</a>.</p>
<p>Even nastier, they do it through ad networks that merge the data
collected by various cr…apps and sites made by different
companies.</p>
<p>They use this data to manipulate people to buy things, and hunt for
“whales” who can be led to spend a lot of money. They also
use a back door to manipulate the game play for specific players.</p>
<p>While the article describes gratis games, games that cost money
can use the same tactics.</p>
</li>
(削除) <li>
<p>Oculus Rift games now have (削除ここまで)
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201507290">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2015-07</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Game Of War: Fire Age is an iPhone game with (追記ここまで) <a (削除) href="http://motherboard.vice.com/read/new-oculus-drm-cross-platform">
DRM meant to prevent running them (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://www.cracked.com/article_18461_5-creepy-ways-video-games-are-trying-to-get-you-addicted.html">
addictive features</a> which are based (追記ここまで) on (削除) other systems</a>.</p> (削除ここまで) (追記) <a
href="/proprietary/proprietary-addictions.html#addictiveness">behavioral
manipulation techniques</a>, compounded with group emulation. After a
fairly easy start, the game slows down and becomes more difficult,
so gamers are led to spend more and more money in order to keep up
with their group. And if they stop playing for a while, the equipment
they invested in gets destroyed by the “enemy” unless
they buy an expensive “shield” to protect it. This game
is also deceptive, as it uses confusing menus and complex stats to
obfuscate true monetary costs.</p> (追記ここまで)
</li>
(削除) <li>
<p>Some proprietary (削除ここまで)
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201504210">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2015-04</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Runescape is a popular online game with some (追記ここまで) <a
(削除) href="http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jan/19/apple-talking-cats-in-app-purchases">
games lure (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://web.archive.org/web/20230329031353/https://www.reddit.com/r/runescape/comments/33cd8g/question_why_is_runescape_so_addicting/">
addictive features</a> derived from <a
href="/proprietary/proprietary-addictions.html#addictiveness">
behavioral manipulation techniques</a>. Certain
repetitive aspects of the game, like <a
href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grinding_(video_games)">
grinding</a>, can be minimised by becoming a paying member, and can
thus encourage (追記ここまで) children (追記) and impressionable people (追記ここまで) to spend (削除) their parents' money</a>.
</p> (削除ここまで) (追記) money on
the game.</p> (追記ここまで)
</li>
(削除) <li><p>Angry (削除ここまで)
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201410130">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2014-10</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p><a
href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2014/10/nintendo-updates-take-wii-u-hostage-until-you-agree-new-legal-terms">Nintendo
remotely sabotaged the Wii U, making it refuse to work unless the
user agrees to a new EULA</a>.</p>
<p>We can be quite sure this EULA is unjust because injustice is the
only motive for imposing an EULA.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201401280">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2014-01</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Angry (追記ここまで) Birds <a (削除) href="http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/28/world/spy-agencies-scour-phone-apps-for-personal-data.html"> (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/28/world/spy-agencies-scour-phone-apps-for-personal-data.html"> (追記ここまで)
spies for companies, and the NSA takes advantage
to spy through it too</a>. Here's information on <a
href="http://confabulator.blogspot.com/2012/11/analysis-of-what-information-angry.html">
more spyware apps</a>.</p>
<p><a (削除) href="http://www.propublica.org/article/spy-agencies-probe-angry-birds-and-other-apps-for-personal-data"> (削除ここまで)
(追記) href="https://www.propublica.org/article/spy-agencies-probe-angry-birds-and-other-apps-for-personal-data"> (追記ここまで)
More about NSA app spying</a>.</p>
</li>
(削除) </ul>
</div><!-- for id="content", starts (削除ここまで)
(追記) <!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201401190">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2014-01</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Some proprietary <a
href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jan/19/apple-talking-cats-in-app-purchases">
games lure children to spend their parents' money</a>.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201105070">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2011-05</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p><a href="https://www.defectivebydesign.org/sony">The Playstation
3 is a tyrant</a>.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit (追記ここまで) in (追記) malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M201003300">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2010-03</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Sony <a
href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2010/03/sony-steals-feature-from-your-playstation-3">sabotaged (追記ここまで)
the (削除) include above (削除ここまで) (追記) Playstation 3</a> with a firmware downgrade that removed the
feature that allowed users to run GNU/Linux on it.</p>
<p>Sony subsequently sent police after Geohot, after he cracked the
code that blocked users from changing the firmware, and we responded by
calling for a <a href="http://boycottsony.org">boycott of Sony</a>.</p>
<p>In a court settlement Sony is <a
href="https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/06/if-you-used-to-run-linux-on-your-ps3-you-could-get-55-from-sony/">
now paying for the sabotage</a>.</p>
</li>
<!-- Copied from workshop/mal.rec. Do not edit in malware-games.html. -->
<li id="M200510200">
<!--#set var="DATE" value='<small class="date-tag">2005-10</small>'
--><!--#echo encoding="none" var="DATE" -->
<p>Blizzard Warden is a hidden
“cheating-prevention” program that <a
href="https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2005/10/new-gaming-feature-spyware">
spies on every process running on a gamer's computer and sniffs a
good deal of personal data</a>, including lots of activities which
have nothing to do with cheating.</p>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
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