Bioshock 2’s system requirements have been published today, and guess what? Our little friend SecuROM is hidden away, cackling to itself in a way only the most evil beings know how. Alright, there’s no limit on installations this time, but honestly I won’t be happy until SecuROM goes away for good.

By the way, you can pre-order Bioshock 2 on Steam here. It’s 10% off, and comes with a free version of Bioshock (which you can gift to a friend if you already have).

Hit the jump for the (pretty reasonable) System requirements.

Minimum:

* Processor: AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3800+ 2.4Ghz or better, Intel Pentium 4 530 3.0Ghz Processor or better
* Memory: 2GB
* Graphics: NVIDIA 7800GT 256MB graphics card or better, ATI Radeon X1900 256MB graphics card or better
* Hard Drive: 11GB
* Sound: 100% DirectX 9.0C compliant sound card or onboard sound
* OS: Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7
* DirectX: DirectX 9.0c

Recommended:

* Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Dual Core 2.60Ghz, Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 Dual Core 2.13Ghz
* Memory: 3GB
* Graphics: NVIDIA 8800GT 512MB graphics card or better, ATI Radeon HD4830 512MB graphics card or better

Other Requirements:

* Initial installation requires one-time internet connection.
* Ability to save game, earn achievements, receive title updates and online play requires log-in to Games for Windows LIVE.
* Software installations required including Microsoft Visual C++2008 Runtime Libraries, Games for Windows LIVE client, Games for Windows LIVE Client Patch, Sony DADC SecuROM, Microsoft DirectX.

2K Games has officially released the minimum and recommended PC system requirements for BioShock 2 via Steam, which unfortunately includes the infamous SecuROM DRM activation process.

The listing has revealed that there is a “5 machine activation limit” on each copy of the game. Here are the full list of system requirements:

Minimum:

• OS: Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7
• Processor: AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3800+ 2.4Ghz or better, Intel Pentium 4 530 3.0Ghz Processor or better
• Memory: 2GB
• Graphics: NVIDIA 7800GT 256MB graphics card or better, ATI Radeon X1900 256MB graphics card or better
• DirectX: DirectX 9.0c
• Hard Drive: 11GB
• Sound: 100% DirectX 9.0C compliant sound card or onboard sound

Recommended:

• Processor: AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Dual Core 2.60Ghz, Intel Core 2 Duo E6420 Dual Core 2.13Ghz
• Memory: 3GB
• Graphics: NVIDIA 8800GT 512MB graphics card or better, ATI Radeon HD4830 512MB graphics card or better

Other Requirements & DRM:

• Initial installation requires one-time internet connection; Ability to save game, earn achievements, receive title updates and online play requires log-in to Games for Windows LIVE; software installations required including Microsoft Visual C++2008 Runtime Libraries, Games for Windows LIVE client, Games for Windows LIVE Client Patch, Sony DADC SecuROM, Microsoft DirectX.

(Via Steam)

Bioshock 2 DRM: SecuROM, activation limits, and bears

Bioshock 2 will come both as a boxed retail product and a for-pay digital download if that's more to your taste. Looking at the game's page on Steam reveals something disappointing for those of us against invasive DRM: the game will utilize SecuROM and comes with a five-machine activation limit.

2K Games dealt with this decision head-on via its official forum. “BioShock 2 is using a standard Games for Windows Live activation system, much like other games you have played in the past,” a 2K Community Manager writes. “That doesn't mean you always have to be online to play or save the game—you can create an offline profile for the Single Player portion of the game (you just won't earn achievements and you can't play Multiplayer, of course.)” Of course.

“We are using SecuROM only as a disc check method for the retail copy of BioShock 2. That is it's only use.”

Well, there is also that pesky five-machine limit, which many of our readers find intolerable. Will this lead to lower sales? Who knows. It's important to know what you're buying for your money, however. A quick note: Shacknews lists the activation limit at 15 machines, but as of this writing the listing claims five. We've included a shot of the screen so you can see for yourself. It's very possible that could change before launch.