EA Releases Spore SecuROM Deauthorization Tool

Tue, Dec 16, 2008

While it will not fix any of the alleged hardware and software incompatibilities that have inspired multiple individuals to file class-action lawsuits against the company, a new EA tool will allow you to do one thing most PC owners have long taken for granted -- uninstall and reinstall the game itself.

Today, three months to the day after EA promised that they would loosen reinstallation restrictions on Spore with a patch, that patch has arrived. For PC only.

Sporedum received the following email from Community Manager MaxisCactus earlier this afternoon:

In recognition of player feedback regarding DRM and SecuROM on Spore, Maxis is offering a standalone download so that users can now “de-authorize” a computer if they would like to make that authorize available for another machine.

Machines can be de-authorized or re-authorized at any time. The total number of machines on which Spore can be authorized concurrently will continue to be five. To de-authorize a PC download and launch Spore_deauth.zip and run the Spore De-Authorization Tool.exe file.

You can de-authorize at any time, even without uninstalling Spore, and free up that machine authorization. If you re-launch Spore on the same machine, the game will attempt to re-authorize. If you have not reached the machine limitation, the game will authorize and the machine will be re-authorized using up one of the five available machines.

Thanks everyone for your feedback, we hope you find this tool useful.

http://www.spore.com/patch/deauthorization

-MaxisCactus
Q: My computer died at the end of October and I had to buy a new one, well is there a way to deauthorize that old PC with this tool? Or does it only work for the current installation?
A: It only works with the current machine. Only CS can “clear” the old authorization. You can contact our CS team by clicking here.

Q: If I get a new graphics card and stuff can I use this before that then how do I re-authorize the “new” comp?
A: Yes, run the de-authorize tool, install the new card then just start Spore again (all while online) and a fresh license will be automatically created.

Q: I am upgrading my system in the new year, New motherboard and Quadcore . I am keeping the same Harddrive and video card. WIll I have to de authorize even though the hard drive is the same or is this not required?
A: It would be best to de-authorize before you do the upgrade, then just start Spore again and that will ensure that you don’t lose an authentication.

Q: Is there a mac version available?
A: We don’t currently have a Mac version available.

While the patch's timing is probably just about right, as lucky PC gamers will indeed need to de-authorize before the install Spore on their silicon-stuffed Christmas presents, it does seem Apple adherents have been left on the backburner. Hopefully that will be remedied soon.