Windows 10 Can Disable Pirated Games and Illegal Hardware

If you’ve got any pirated (Microsoft) games on your computer, you might want to think twice before upgrading to Windows 10.. You see, according to the recently updated Microsoft Services Agreement, they can now disable pirated games and unauthorized hardware peripheral devices from your computer.

Section 7b of the Windows 10 services agreement, which all Windows users must agree to in order to use the operating system, states:

“We may automatically check your version of the software and download software updates or configuration changes, including those that prevent you from accessing the Services, playing counterfeit games, or using unauthorized hardware peripheral devices. You may also be required to update the software to continue using the Services.”

There’ve been conflicting reports about whether or not this applies to other third party games and apps that you might have installed on your computer (eg. Adobe Photoshop), but PC Gamer reports that this should only apply to Xbox and Windows Games published by Microsoft. And with Microsoft’s recent announcement about Gears of War: Ultimate Edition and Halo Wars 2 coming to Windows 10, it would make perfect sense for them to protect their games from being pirated in this fashion.

As for that whole “unauthorized hardware peripheral devices” bit, that’s a little fuzzier. Does this mean that Microsoft can now block uncertified PC or illegally-modified Xbox One and Xbox 360 controllers? For now, we’ll just have to wait and see..