Direct2Drive is a video game and entertainment distributor and retail store operated alongside its FilePlanet service by IGN and GameSpy since 2004. Rather than selling physical inventory, the site provides online-only distribution of computer games, movies, anime, TV and comics using the Direct2Drive Download Manager, and allows customers to re-download purchased materials on demand.

Potential Clients should be aware that Direct2Drive has a very unfriendly return policy, and even in the case of pre-orders may not authorize product refunds. If you make a purchase it is often considered final, even if the product is not downloaded or the key not activated. If you are looking to make gift purchases, or purchases on behalf of another, then this is not for you. For more information on their return policy click this [102] and type refund into the search box.

Another major issue is that you must often purchase product upgrades from them directly, as they will not always support expansions from boxed versions of the game. There is often little or no documentation to this effect and often you are left wondering until you have managed to contact their support group to be told that you must try to return the expansion purchased and buy their version. Additionally, it is sometimes required that you re-download the full original game with related patches before you can install the expansion, the end result, assuming clean downloads which is not a safe assumption, is that you can be locked into days worth of downloading and patching before you can play your new game.

Quote taken from http://support.direct2drive.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=3091:
<blockquote>I want to buy an expansion for my Direct2Drive game at the store, will that work?<br>
Some Direct2Drive games are not compatible to retail bought expansions unless stated otherwise on our website. Please see the information page in advance of making a purchase for these details.</blockquote>

See also

Steam, a similar system run by Valve Corporation.

EA Link, a similar system run by Electronic Arts.

External links

Direct2Drive Homepage