Digital PC game service Direct2Drive (D2D) has begun a protest today against Activision's use of Steamworks in Modern Warfare 2, refusing to sell the PC title.

The game's page reads as follows:

At Direct2Drive, we believe strongly that when you buy a game from us, you shouldn't be forced to install and run a 3rd party software client to be able to play the game you purchased. Because COD MW 2 requires you, the consumer, to do that, we aren't able to offer the game via Direct2Drive at this time.

Elaborating in a statement, D2D refers to the client as a "Trojan Horse" in that it's a means by which to sneak in digital rights management (DRM). Steam-bundled games, of course, require online activation and the client's files to be updated for play -- two things not always possible, particularly if your Internet connection is not rock solid.

The opposition appears to be a new change in D2D's operations, as previously released titles like Saint's Row 2 and Empire: Total War do require the client. It's plausible to expect then support received enough complaints for previous titles to rule out the inclusion of Steam in future releases.

Oddly, D2D encourages people to buy the retail version through their partner Amazon, though that version includes Steamworks as well. In any case, they're also offering $5 off select Activision titles which are not bundled with the client, and even encourage you to contact them about your concerns. We'd guess if they get enough e-mails, they may convince Activision to supply them with a Steam-free version of the game, or at least not use it for future games, if only on D2D.

Theodore Bergquist, CEO of another digital distributor GamersGate has a similar stance on publishers including Steam with their games, having said in an interview last month it's both dangerous for competition and unfriendly to the customer:

"The real danger for a publisher using Steam, for example, is that they're feeding a competitor with money and resources. Consider the way Steam locks their customers into a download client; essentially they implement their technology in third party games, and force users to go through Steam in order to access games that the consumer paid full price for. What ends up happening is Steam builds an inordinate degree of control over their customer base and future revenues, and I don’t think many publishers are aware of just how much control they actually have."

Bergquist later added, "We believe being independent and working toward an open ended solution that delivers a smooth and fast retailing service is the concept of the future."

Update: Impulse and GamersGate have both joined the boycott; no other digital distributors (except Steam) are listing the game at this time.