Valve has announced plans to update its Steamworks service to contain a more robust security system, hoping to put an end to troublesome DRM. In the past few months, many games have featured Steamworks as a back end for their PC functionality, and with more tools Steam seems prepared to expand even more.

Called "Custom Executable Generation" technology, the software creates a unique version of the software for every copy sold, allowing for infinite installations without "tokens" or any such nonsense. The only real limit seems to be how many copies are active at the same time, which isn't really a limit at all, all things considered. It's a much more customer-friendly take on security, and should essentially complete the same task without completely screwing over gamers, who seem entirely willing to work with Steam.

Valve's done a fantastic job at cleaning up the PC market, which has been struggling recently to keep its head above water. It's just rough, especially considering how consoles have been slowly taking the better aspects of PCs and applying them to an easier to manage system. Hopefully the trend continues, and more companies see the light, shedding their SecuROM shell for a brighter CEG future.

Their full press release is below.

STEAMWORKS MAKES DRM OBSOLETE

Suite of Services Expands With Customer Executable Generation (CEG), Support for DLC, Matchmaking, and More

March 24, 2009 - Valve today announced a new set of advanced features delivered in Steamworks, a complete suite of publishing and development tools that are available free of charge to developers and publishers worldwide.

Headlining the new feature set is the Custom Executable Generation (CEG) technology that compliments the already existing anti-piracy solution offered in Steamworks. A customer friendly approach to anti-piracy, CEG makes unique copies of games for each user allowing them to access the application on multiple machines without install limits and without having to install root kits on their PC.

The new features also include support for in-game downloadable content (DLC) and matchmaking. The in-game DLC support allows developers to deliver new content as they choose (paid or free) from inside the game itself, allowing users to make immediate purchases and experience the new content in the same game session. The Steamworks matchmaking now includes the robust lobby system shipped and tested in Left 4 Dead.

"Delivering this extension of services on Steamworks first anniversary, demonstrates our commitment to continually develop the platform to better serve the community working with these tools," said Gabe Newell, president and co-founder of Valve. "As we roll out these features, we continue to look for new ways make PC games easier to create and better for customers to experience."

Steamworks was launched in early 2008 and has already shipped in products distributed at retail and electronically with major PC releases such as Empire: Total War, Dawn of War II, F.E.A.R. 2: Project Origin, and Football Manager 2009.

The Steamworks services are offered free of charge to developers and publishers around the world. In addition to the services added in this spring's extension, Steamworks offers support for Steam Achievements, Steam Community, Auto Updating, Statistics, Steam Cloud and more.

Steamworks is fully integrated with the Steam, a leading platform for the delivery and management of PC games that has grown to reach 20 million accounts throughout the world, up from 15 million accounts just one year ago. Steam now offers over 500 applications to gamers in every country of the world.

For more information, please visit www.steamgames.com

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