Games @lemmy.world simple @piefed.social 2d ago

Borderlands 2 is free to claim on Steam for the next two days

store.steampowered.com Save 100% on Borderlands 2 on Steam

The Ultimate Vault Hunter’s Upgrade lets you get the most out of the Borderlands 2 experience.

Be sure to claim it before the offer ends.

33 comments

Nah
Don't claim it is a free trojan
It also requires root level access and is listed as such in their TOS.
- People seem to not understand how TOS works. The game exe does not request admin permissions at all. There is no kernel level anticheat. It does not install Battleye or EAC or anything of the sort.
  
  The TOS is not specific to this game. It just means there is at least one game by Take Two Interactive that requires this (though when I skimmed through I couldn’t find mention of it).
  
  The game has not been updated since 2022 and I highly doubt it will get any more.
- How do terms of service give them root level access?
  
  EDIT: For the record, I've been playing through this whole series in the middle of when they rolled out these EULA changes, and I wish them the best of luck in getting root access to my machine, but I promise you they didn't get it via Proton.
  
  It doesn’t, installing the game does. The terms of service just let you know that you are willfully infecting your computer with spyware.
  
  By indicating that root access is required to play the game, and that you agree to this by agreeing to the TOS. Without agreeing, you can't play the game.
- Add it while it's free, worry about root later. :)
  
  I'm going to try it on my Steam Deck, I just naturally assume they already have root access.
Be warned, these games have turned into literal spyware. Installing them gives 2K/Gearbox root access to your computer and collects a ridiculous amount of info.
- But can they if you are using Linux to run it?
  
  Technically, yes. WINE/Proton aren't sandboxed so it would be possible to pull some information at least. I've heard people install the flatpak version of Steam to isolate network calls using flatseal, so that's one workaround potentially.
  
  NOTE: I'm just talking about generic data collection. The DRM/anti-cheat stuff could flag you as using Linux and then the game just refuses to run. I know the new ToS talked about banning VMs so maybe they lump linux users into that (at least for online play).
We should have the Lenny version of a subreddit where we just post what games are free this week
- We have one
  
  What's it called
Yes everyone go and claim your free spyware so whiny bitchford can data mine your PC.
- Out of the loop. What did gearbox do that time?
  
  The reason its free is because they added a data miner with root level access.
Good thing 🏴‍☠️'d copies exist of before the malware.
- But how do you play with friends again
  
  Hitachi
  
  But wait, does it even work anymore?

33 comments