Yeah, all digital versions will need a one time activation, no idea about retail as it won't be available here regardless.....

The problem is that one day there will be no retail version anymore.

Fair enough, although once those retail versions are out of print, Ubisoft will no doubt do budget rereleases, and used copies will almost certainly be doing the rounds for a while as is always the case.

And if it's out of print and traders happen to be selling used copies at extortionate prices, we'll always have digital to fall back onto as a last resort.
I found the "DRM" of ACB to strike the best balance between consumer-friendliness and providing an incentive to buy it original. Sure, you could play the game without ever connecting to the internet, but connecting and registering did genuinely provide you with an improved experience that only an online link could provide.

That was kindda my point. Digital releases nearly always, and with nearly always I mean anything except The Witcher 2 and then down to the indies, have DRM. Therefore, when retail disappears, there will be nothing released DRM free. Hopefully, gog and CDProject will make the DRM wave stumble a little bit soon.

Sorry to necro this post but - an Amazon.de reviewer has confirmed that Rayman Origins retail is absolutely DRM-free - no one-time activation, no nothing - and they seem to have sold out on their first day of sale :-)

One up for DRM freedom!

I didn't get a chance to check this yesterday, but I am certainly going out to pick up my copy today.

Now that Ubisoft is releasing Assassin's Creed and HOMM V here on GOG DRM Free, do you think Rayman Origins will be soon to follow? I am very tempted to buy it already, but I would definitely buy it on GOG if it were released here.