robomop: @Djaron Greetings :) Yes I did purchase my game from another retailer, the base game is 100% drm free but the DLC is making me register with what looks like a 1 use serial code? maybe that's where the confusion lies?
how is the DLC free if it is only available via a one use code? if I donate my copy to charity when Im done (which I have done with games in the past) the next user can't have the "free" dlc? or am I missing something? EA got loads of stick for doing that exact thing!
(is that not drm?)
i'll try to explain:
dlc were not ready but yet making in progress, so they could not be put in the "gold" physical discs sold elsewhere.
maybe you already had some physical game purchase at some store that had some preorder exclusive goodies (i mean exclusive to that store, for example) or exclusive to preorder folks... usually after game release, the store would send you a code (would act like some sort of purchase ticket/proof of purchase) to get the bonus
dlc here are same thing
will speak from my personnal point of view: purchased the game here (gog is a side project from witcher's games developpers..., i always try to purchase my game from the very source when possible).
i preordered it as soon as it was possible to purchase it.
at launch i realised that the already available first 2 DLCs (armor and hair style) were already in my account's download section for this game... and when i tried to "purchase" for free (yes, indeed they used a curious system, i grant you that) the whole "full 16 free dlc program" it told me i already had this item.
i dont know why they used a confusing system, maybe exactly because digital copies could be purchased elswhere than here (before, they had one distributor for physical version, or non computer versions, but the digital copies were always only available here for Witcher 1 and 2, as were the free upgrades and ehenced versions)
maybe they needed a way to keep track of it.
but please, do not confuse with DRM.
as your physical copy was mastered prior to official launch date, you had to download the unlocking part of the installer. they wanted the game to be launched at a fixed date (it's their right) yet as they sold physical copies to stores which NEED to get the item in stock BEFORE launch date, they had to resort to this.
from what i know, any physical copy created prior to game launch will have full offline installer
anyway, you just needed to register your serial number / cd key here so they could acknowledge you as a legit buyer (as they need to keep track of stuff bought elsewhere). then you can "add" to your account and link to your cdkey the DLC program (means the 16 to come, 2 already available) for no additionnal charge. you can then download the installers for the DLCs, and patch your game with them.
i guess that when the last free dlc will be released, they also will add them to any physical copy boxed afterwars.
A drm would have been rather more intrusive and painful, believe me. If you can download the installer, keep it forever, install it again without the need of an internet connection... then it is not DRM.
Confusion is also because they are both the game makers and one of the game distributor but not the only source of purchase. So they need some sort of game registering as would a manufacturor would need a proof of purchase for the sake of the warranty, to provide future updates and free bonus.
your question about giving out or selling away your physical copy is legitimate though. But it is the first time a similar case occurs so far (different from the last 2 witchers games). The only question would be about the main game cd key. However, the person who could purchase an "used" physical computer copy of witcher 3 could add the 16 dlc to his account free of charge.
