Unobtainable game keys - the future?

It's OK if SG eventually bites the dust. I find it fun. But it's really a system that has always been exploited heavily by scammers, traders and resellers. And the vast majority of giveaways are for mass-produced shoddy trash whose sole value lies in buying them cheap in bundles and then parceling them out for profit - whether by Steam trading cards, trading across region lines for a profit, or by simply accruing SG levels so as to give access to higher level giveaways or to gain cred for joining exclusive groups.

At least for ACO in this months HB, there was an option to make a gift link. Even if they did this, we could in theory still create gift links the way we do now, only the redeemer will link his/ her account to that gift link and add the game that way, rather than redeeming a code.

If I'm reading it correctly, SG would go on the same as ever. You would just have to use gift links instead of keys, which is already an option with Humble isn't it?

(I doubt it'll happen within a year though--that's verrrry optimistic.)

edit: haha, ninja'd

By removing keys from the equation and giving publishers more control over how their games are distributed, Genba reckons it can kill off the grey market.

it's not the only thing that this would kill, i don't see fanatical or humble selling the same amount of products without keys being delivered.
btw, this also smells like increased prices / reduced discounts, because of extra expenses with the new system.

between this and epic, customers are in for a treat in the next few years. go pc gaming... 🙄

And within 2 years DRM via hardware USB dongles, while within 5 years the dongles will need to scan and verify user DNA...

Steam already had API game activation a couple years ago and discontinued it for whatever reason. Unlikely to affect Steam unless Steam gets a lot of published pressure to add it back.

well, if it's links replacing keys it wouldn't be that different..