Home Gaming FFD: So, about those always-online single player games

FFD: So, about those always-online single player games

1 min read
114

FFD08032013

Perpetually connected, mostly single player game Diablo III’s launch was a mess. For weeks afterwards the game was nearly unplayable, giving people the now infamous Error 37 message. It’s a mistake EA should have learned from – but didn’t. Its own perpetually connected, mostly single player game launched this week – and server issues have caused a huge uproar, with people waiting hours just to be able to play the game they’ve bought.

We’re always told that we never really own the games we buy – we’re just granted a licence. but what about when that licence doesn’t doesn’t actually allow you to play a damned thing, because some large company who should know better hasn’t managed to get their ducks in a row.

It’s made all the worse by the fact that in truth, much like Diablo the game doesn’t really need to be online. Sure, there are some neat features that take advantage of being perpetually connected, like leaderboards, a persistent economy and other marketing nonsense, but they could easily just disable that nonsense and let people play offline.

They won’t though – because perpetually connected single player games are THE FUTURE! That’s the belief of a number of industry luminaries, including the likes of Crytek’s Cevat Yerli, who wants “The single player experience to go away.” Rumours even suggest that at least one of the next gen consoles will require an always on connection for single player games. This is the future.

So tell us; what do you think of connected single player games? Is there any real benefit – or is it just another method of DRM, a way for publishers to hold even more control over our games?

Last Updated: March 8, 2013

114 Comments

  1. Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

    March 8, 2013 at 10:32

    *starts preparing epic rant*

    Reply

    • AndriyP

      March 8, 2013 at 10:34

      No need Francis did a good job

      Reply

      • matthurstrsa

        March 8, 2013 at 10:43

        I think he went a bit far with the kids drawings though 😛

        Reply

  2. Uberutang

    March 8, 2013 at 10:32

    I do not support these games at all. I can do without them and I do.

    Reply

  3. AndriyP

    March 8, 2013 at 10:35

    Lulz it comes with a free disaster

    IE the freaking launch lulz

    Talking about embarrassments and getting their lifes together…Hey Francis how about you apply the same to your own life?

    Reply

    • Eric Viljoen

      March 8, 2013 at 11:06

      He’s on a diet

      Reply

  4. GooseZA

    March 8, 2013 at 10:36

    • matthurstrsa

      March 8, 2013 at 10:43

      Great summary!

      Reply

  5. Twakkie

    March 8, 2013 at 10:36

    BURN THEM!!!

    Reply

  6. Edwin le Roux

    March 8, 2013 at 10:37

    I don’t mind always online DRM. That’s if I lived in a first world country with amazing internet.
    But I don’t. So I mind.

    Other than hoping that the game servers will be online and not over crowed. I have to worry about, if I’m going to have internet when I get home after work. And if the internet connection will be stable enough to play some games.

    Reply

  7. TechniKyle

    March 8, 2013 at 10:39

    I’m sorry Francis, but your BMI is blocking the internet…

    Reply

  8. Sir Captain Rincethis

    March 8, 2013 at 10:39

    HAHAHAHAHAHAH! Geoff! Thank you thank you thank you for this video!

    Reply

    • matthurstrsa

      March 8, 2013 at 10:41

      HAHA! When he waves his arms up and down, that parts epic!

      Reply

      • Sir Captain Rincethis

        March 8, 2013 at 10:42

        Hahaha! I thought he was going to have a heart attack! I was googling paramedics for him! But I agree, FUCK YOU $A

        Reply

      • FoxOneZA

        March 8, 2013 at 10:55

        His cheeks turned red >.<

        Reply

  9. matthurstrsa

    March 8, 2013 at 10:42

    HAHA, the way he uses Mountain Dew to calm himself is legendary.

    Reply

    • FoxOneZA

      March 8, 2013 at 10:55

      2 litres too.

      Reply

      • matthurstrsa

        March 8, 2013 at 10:57

        Obviously. Anything less and he swallows the whole thing, bottle and all.

        Reply

    • Eric Viljoen

      March 8, 2013 at 11:08

      lol. It’s water. He’s looking at his figure. It be round

      Reply

    • HvR

      March 8, 2013 at 11:39

      Diet Double Dew, You do the maths.

      Reply

    • HvR

      March 8, 2013 at 11:52

  10. umar bastra

    March 8, 2013 at 10:45

    I don’t support it, I don’t like it, I don’t feel it has anything to do with enriching the experience, it’s just another way for companies to hold more control over us. As consumer we should never be forced into anything we don’t want. I shouldn’t have to connect to the internet to play SINGLE player … so now a game that you want to play on your own, depends on servers sitting somewhere far away and who’s to say they won’t scrap them somewhere down the line, then what do you have? and nice lil circular shuriken. WHEN THE FUCK DID PLAYING A FUCKING GAME COME WITH ALL THIS LICENSE AGREEMENTS AND FORCEFUL SIGNING UP FOR SHIT …. god and why do people support this shit??????? them buying this game further puts fuel to the fire for turning gaming into a service….sigh gaaad

    Reply

    • Eric Viljoen

      March 8, 2013 at 11:09

      Worst part is, EULA’s aren’t really legal here anyway. So click “I agree with blah blah” away

      Reply

      • umar bastra

        March 8, 2013 at 11:12

        Ye, we don’t have much of a fighting chance there, but I should hope some people at least the krap they are stating in there … it is sad sad sad…SAD SAD *in n’sync voice*

        Reply

    • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

      March 8, 2013 at 11:37

      People will keep buying because they have no alternative. They buy in the hopes of actually having the game work as intended on launch day.

      People need their hobbies. Without them life would suck. Game companies know this and so they know that no matter how unhappy, people will continue because of that need for something to break away.

      Sad fact.

      Reply

      • umar bastra

        March 8, 2013 at 11:40

        that’s borderline drug addict behaviour lol and companies are drug dealers …. it’s very true what you speak sir … but we can still support other games and companies that don’t do this … I don’t see why we should give in to EA and the likes

        Reply

        • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

          March 8, 2013 at 11:50

          Comes down to choice and availability I guess. There is no other building simulation like simcity. So what do simcity fans do?

          Reply

          • umar bastra

            March 8, 2013 at 11:52

            that’s true and it is horrible that they have to be exploited so. is it wishful thinking to say they have to be strong and boycott?….

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            March 8, 2013 at 11:59

            Very unlikely. A person would rather play a bad game of golf than no golf at all. See no scenery while diving than not diving at all. Rather game on a bad server than not game at all

          • umar bastra

            March 8, 2013 at 12:02

            Indeed the nature of humans ….. but bloody hell we need to start making a change though. I don’t know how much games i boycotted this gen because of shoddy business

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            March 8, 2013 at 12:06

            This model will eventually fall flat on it’s own. You see it’s not the people who don’t buy it but rather the people who CAN’T buy it that will not. Their user base won’t grow. What happens when your base doesn’t grow? It fails.

            Eventually these bad decisions will have a far more devestating impact. When they can’t sustain those servers anymore and forced to shut them down and cause a massive backlash with huge loss of revenue.

            Servers cost monthly. These games people buy once. It will happen without us doing much.

            My opinion anyway

          • umar bastra

            March 8, 2013 at 12:11

            no no I get that, I agree, the always on line model won’t be as lucrative as they think. but if it’s not this it’s on disc DLC, cut content, paying for alternative endings etc etc…we have to start making a stand against these things

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            March 8, 2013 at 12:13

            DLC is a beast of it’s own yeah. That needs to be fought tooth and nails. This will require people to man up and take a stand unfortunately.

          • umar bastra

            March 8, 2013 at 12:17

            which won’t happen…well maybe it will. I’m hopeful…here’s hoping for a better future for gaming

  11. matthurstrsa

    March 8, 2013 at 10:45

    There is benefit… if it works and if you’re that sort of person who enjoys Foursquaring when you’re on the toilet but for most of us, we play single player games to escape the mundane annoying people we know in reality and not be disturbed by anything or anyone. I just want to go and play God and either wreak havoc or build the perfect city. Without connecting to anyone else, without sharing resources, without sharing my achievements on Facebook and Twitter and annoying everyone else there.

    Reply

  12. Sir Captain Rincethis

    March 8, 2013 at 10:46

    I will not buy DRM. I would rather buy my 2nd favourite game than a DRM game. They are telling their consumers what to play and when? And then they cannot play? This is utterly utterly disgusting. People STOP buying these fucking games! You are the ones that are letting these pricks rape us! I’m not, I have never bought a DRM game, but there are those who have, and until you boycott these fucking games, they will keep coming. When did the gamer no longer have the power? When did the suits decide ‘hey, screw them, we will tell them when they play’. This really pisses me off. It is US who have the money, so STOP SPENDING IT ON THIS SHIT!

    Reply

    • umar bastra

      March 8, 2013 at 10:48

      Indeed! people keep supporting this shit ….. when will gamers wake the fuck up and realize where this industry is going

      Reply

      • Sir Captain Rincethis

        March 8, 2013 at 11:31

        yeah, and people like cliffy B point this out, and people hate on him… The industry is going mainstream, that means $$$ is more important.

        Reply

        • umar bastra

          March 8, 2013 at 11:38

          ignorance is prevalent in all facets life, people hate and mock that which they cannot understand or do not want to acknowledge

          Reply

          • Sir Captain Rincethis

            March 8, 2013 at 11:45

            I would offer you a Bells, but as it was a gift from @LlewellynCrossley:disqus I think that would be rude. So I suggest a glass for all of us instead! (Is that allowed before 12pm on a Friday? I mean, it is my birthday weekend…)

          • umar bastra

            March 8, 2013 at 11:48

            It’s your birthday go wild! you only level up once a year

          • Sir Captain Rincethis

            March 8, 2013 at 11:57

            Permission granted! Not sure what to spend the 3 points on… Constitution (for drinking more), Dexterity (so I can avoid OVG’s wild swings when he rages, I KNOW he will tomorrow) or Luck (that I will FINALLY win comment over the week above OVG)… Decisions…

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            March 8, 2013 at 12:00

            Dude, this comment made me lol

          • Sir Captain Rincethis

            March 8, 2013 at 12:04

            Hahah! Glad to be of service! I wanted to add ‘hick, hick’ for the Bells, but alas, my throat has not been limbered just yet…

          • umar bastra

            March 8, 2013 at 12:01

            Lol check your pip boy, any skills to increase money income? so you can buy us drinks (Oros for me 🙂 )

          • Sir Captain Rincethis

            March 8, 2013 at 12:04

            There is a skill tree called ‘DRM Microtransactions’, would that suffice? 0_o

          • umar bastra

            March 8, 2013 at 12:05

            hey now, don’t be like EA and join the thief guild :O

    • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

      March 8, 2013 at 11:20

      Have an upvote good sir! And a Bells!

      Reply

  13. Wyzak

    March 8, 2013 at 10:49

    I boycott these games, and rather support the indie developers who still develop DRM free games.

    Reply

  14. Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

    March 8, 2013 at 11:02

    Right, so let me start by saying this:

    Online connectivity can bring some real value to a game. It can bring it to a whole new level and do things that are impossible to do in a solitary, offline solution. The idea itself is fantastic and really helps get rid of the boredom that can so quickly develop when you are playing a game alone….

    BUT

    This is not something that should be forced. Aside from the obvious problems of server crashes etc (more on that lower down) they are taking away a very integral part of gaming, that is for me, the most important part. Escapeism. Many gamers out there use games to escape the real world. To get away from human beings so that they can, for a few hours, just forget about the nonsense of a pretty messed up world. Yes, there are the negative sides attached to being addicted but the same goes for any hobby.

    By forcing persistant online connections gaming companies are not helping you remove the stress of a digitally connected world but rather adding to that stress. This is going to cause the industry to collapse! E-mails, social-networks, cellphones, internet, instant messaging etc etc etc. This is all things that drain a person on a daily basis with the constant barrage of information being shoved in our faces constantly. Hence why people have hobbies. Switch of cellphone and go golfing/diving/biking/hiking/ and yes even gaming! But no, now we are still bombarded with real world people and what they are up to! So and so achieved this, so and so invited you to play, so and so wants to see your profile, such and such a company are now advertising here and spamming horrid ads. It never stops! How can gaming remain a hobby if it doesn’t allow us to escape our digital connectivity in this very digital age? It can’t. If this is the path it is going to take it simply will lose steam as a hobby and become more of competitive driven scene and let’s face it. Not everyone wants to be competitive 100% of the time. I am doing that enough at work thanks.

    Then it comes to enjoyment of the product. I want to enjoy the product I paid good money for. So let’s say I can get past all the digital overload of crap being shoved down my throat while I am playing. An “invisible mode” if you will. That’s great! Oh wait, it’s not. Because now I am still in the passenger seat instead of the drivers seat. Why? Well because I can’t control exactly when I want to play now can I? Buy the game, take a few days before I can even get in. GREAT! Thanks a bunch for helping me enjoy my hobby you morons!

    Server downtimes, maintenance crashes, unexpected hacks, etc etc; The list continues. I am still at the mercy of the real world while I am trying to enjoy my hobby! This is completely and utterly ridiculous! Where in the world do I buy a car only to be told I can’t drive it for the first few days because it needs patching? Or buy a new set of Golf clubs and get told that I have to wait for a new improved version before I can actually hit a ball with it?

    Then there is the serious flaw of their arguments that people want these. How can you tell if people want this kind of inter connectivity if there IS NO OTHER OPTION! We don’t chose this! We get forced to use it or not at all. End of story. You are making up “facts” to suit your own needs if you say that this is what people want.

    How much does it cost to maintain those servers mmm? How much does it cut in to your profit costs of the game?

    Let’s say a game needs 1million copies to turn a profit. Add in forced online connectivity and suddenly you need to sell 2million copies just to cover hardware costs for after sale support. Not to mention these costs are on-going meaning the profit you eventually do make simply gets eaten away slowly over time.

    This also means you sell less. There are people who don’t have internet who now can’t purchase and play this. People who do not have good enough connections and people who refuse to buy anything that is perma-online because they feel they have the right to play when they want, how they want.

    These are not people who were going to pirate initially but now feel that the only way they can play the game is to have it pirated. I don’t endorse piracy and if I can’t get a game because of limitations I simply just don’t get it. But it doesn’t mean there aren’t other that aren’t desperate enough to go the pirate route just so they can enjoy their hobby.

    So not only are pirates going to pirate the game because that is simply what they do, but legitimate buyers are now going to pirate because they simply can’t play otherwise. You have just cut your profits there. Well done!

    So let’s recap quick. You have cut down your potential buyer pool by a significant number, you have damaged your reputation as a reputable gaming company and you have alienated people from a successful franchise? Wow! You are doing well there skippy!

    Let’s look on the flip side shall we? Let’s say you implement an offline mode. Let’s see what impact you have!

    1) The guy who pirated because he doesn’t have an internet connection or a good one, can now buy the game. Instead of having a definate no-sale you suddenly have a potential sale right there.
    2) The hate that would be generated because people can’t play the game they bought is diminished. Yes you will still get some angry people, but at least you can say with a clear conscience that they can at least still enjoy the product while you are working on the online problems. Both sides win and your PR team doesn’t need to look like completely soulless idiots.
    3) The people who don’t want to play online WON’T! This means you don’t need as much server capacity to serve those that do want to play online which means you probably won’t go weeks on end with server issues and having thousands of players demanding refunds from suppliers/yourselves. You save revenue and keep a customer. WINNING!

    But no! Always online is the new fad and you think that simply because people are using it that it must be good. But you are all too short sighted to see what damage you are doing to your own brand and to your consumers.

    Get a grip you money hungry corporate suits and realise you can make MORE by being less controlling of your supporters. We are not the enemy here and we want to stop being treated as such!

    As Princess Leia once said “The more you tighten your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers”

    Take heed to some wise words publishers. Take heed.

    /RANT

    Reply

    • Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim

      March 8, 2013 at 11:05

      Jees..you weren’t kidding about that epic rant…

      Reply

      • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

        March 8, 2013 at 11:10

        I feel pretty strongly about this point lol 🙂 I’m one of those with crappy internet connectivity on 3G which usually ends up spoiling my whole experience of the game I am trying to play.

        Reply

        • LordCaptainAwesomeness

          March 8, 2013 at 13:48

          Only saw your post now. You hit the nail on the head…. Maaassteerrrr…

          Reply

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            March 8, 2013 at 13:49

            Heh 🙂 Thanx man

    • TechniKyle

      March 8, 2013 at 11:06

      Llew, it says “comment,” not “thesis.” Epic “comment” though 🙂

      Reply

      • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

        March 8, 2013 at 11:20

        Hehe. My bad 🙂

        Reply

    • umar bastra

      March 8, 2013 at 11:09

      Nice. I Agree. You know I understand trying to fight piracy, but not at the risk of alienation. but It’s clear they are just greedy and 1, they want more control and 2 they want to eventually eliminate the used game market. And in all honesty this just makes people want to pirate more

      ORE WA KAIZOKUOU OTOKO NI NARU DA!

      Reply

    • Admiral Chief Erwin

      March 8, 2013 at 11:15

      Wow…..my brain just overloaded.
      *off to pub*

      Reply

      • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

        March 8, 2013 at 11:24

        Man, wish I could go to the pub. But I have a feeling that my antibiotics for this flu I have and alcohol won’t go well together 🙁 Guess I will drink some water like Francis 🙁

        Reply

    • Sir Captain Rincethis

      March 8, 2013 at 12:41

      Empties remains of Bells into a tumbler and slides it your way sir. Said like a BOSS.

      Reply

      • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

        March 8, 2013 at 12:44

        Thank you good sir

        Reply

    • Kobus Nel

      March 8, 2013 at 13:03

      • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

        March 8, 2013 at 13:04

        Aw shucks. Thanx man. *Blush*

        Reply

    • OVG

      March 8, 2013 at 13:15

      I FUCKING LOVE YOU MAN 🙂

      Reply

      • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

        March 8, 2013 at 13:16

        Woah. Man thanx! This is some serious praise coming from the master himself!

        Thank you kind sir!

        Reply

        • Sir Captain Rincethis

          March 8, 2013 at 13:35

          He must be trashed 😉

          Reply

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            March 8, 2013 at 14:35

            Must be! Haha 🙂

          • Sir Captain Rincethis

            March 8, 2013 at 14:41

            The only concern I have is the last time OVG was, and I say this tentatively, ‘nice’ to someone, he had to counter-balance this rare occurrence by staying silent as a necromorph penetrated my head, he then chuckled uncontrollably to himself… The horror, the horror 0_o

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            March 8, 2013 at 14:43

            That’s….. disturbing…..

        • OVG

          March 8, 2013 at 13:46

          You summed up all of my thoughts for me. I normally loose interest and trail off after a few sentences HENCE my random CAPS to make me focus.

          But Its nice to see somebody with a good RANT sense that makes sense. A pity the industry is run by money making accountants.

          I have been harping on about a videogame crash around the corner but have not been able to say way. Well you did. Its not the videogames that are going to cause the crash but SHIT work models.

          Nice one. I loved the bit about escaping the real world hence the reason why videogames became such a main stream hobby. Social can be good but its being abused by other greedy motives.

          SINGLE PLAYER FOREVER…Off line.

          Reply

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            March 8, 2013 at 13:48

            Yeah, I also foresee the next big videogame crash around the corner. It’s not going to be pretty

          • OVG

            March 8, 2013 at 14:01

            VIDEOGAME CRASH is coming. Here is the proof, it has allot of marketing statistics that make perfect sense.

            http://www.notenoughshaders.com/2013/03/06/expect-slow-adoption-of-all-three-consoles-next-generation/

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            March 8, 2013 at 14:13

            Those are some scary stats. Especially when they break it down on how many consoles worldwide compared to sales. Very much not an industry I want to be part of right now. Ouch

          • Sir Captain Rincethis

            March 8, 2013 at 14:53

            A VERY interesting article.

          • Skyblue

            March 9, 2013 at 04:58

            Thanks for the link, very informative opinion article.

  15. Eric Viljoen

    March 8, 2013 at 11:05

    F*ck that. I’m going back to the arcade

    Reply

  16. TehBrad

    March 8, 2013 at 11:11

    I really don’t mind a social level always on part of the game. Such as in game chat, achievements and the ability to party.

    But to have to be online all the time for single player? Awe hell no. My connection drops often enough to make an MMO annoying but to have it affect my single player session… I’d go mad.

    Reply

  17. Drive Magazine

    March 8, 2013 at 11:13

    Well I got to say, I started downloading SimCity at just after 02:00 AM, but because I’m a rational patient adult human being just went to bed figuring I could play in the morning. Which I have now been doing for a few hours. No login problems. No game problems. Servers occasionally go down but unlike D3 it doesn’t boot you out of game, just flashes up a little message in the corner of the screen. No big deal at all. I quite like the idea of an always-connected SimCity, looking forward to getting to grips with the pros/cons of the model in this game. DRM is DRM – I pirate quite a lot so in a way I’m responsible for DRM even existing, so I don’t mind developers trying to find new ways of beating me. It keeps it interesting after all. Sometimes you can’t get past it, usually you can (or someone can, and you can copy their cleverness). Life is a game. Enjoy it, rather than having a coronary over something so petty and meaningless. There are more important things to spike your BP over.

    Reply

    • OVG

      March 8, 2013 at 13:23

      I love playing my games over and over even from 20 years ago. Thats why I collect games.

      3 years from now or maybe 2, the servers will be closed and your game will be an expensive cup holder.

      Reply

  18. Kobus Nel

    March 8, 2013 at 11:17

    Online only is sommer net K@K! I don’t want lag spikes, rubberbanding or server disconnections when playing SINGLEPLAYER! This so called “DRM” is forcing ppl to pirate the game, to improve their single player experience. Online only can go jump in front of a bus!

    Reply

    • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

      March 8, 2013 at 11:18

      Hoor hoor!

      Reply

  19. RedJoker

    March 8, 2013 at 11:20

    Haha Francis makes me laugh…
    He also makes me realise that he is everything I don’t wanna be when I get older. Need life motivation? Watch this guys rants.

    Reply

  20. TriangularRoom

    March 8, 2013 at 11:33

    I just want to play my single player games offline, without other people. That’s why it’s a SINGLE player game. I don’t understand why these companies can’t understand that.

    Reply

  21. Gustav Willem Diedericks

    March 8, 2013 at 13:17

    I’ve got a couple of games that are sitting in my cupboard collecting dust for the past few years, that are games I bought but never got around to play (mainly due to time constraints and some other game coming out that I just HAD to play) . If EA and these big companies continue down this path, I’ll be whipping out those games, because I won’t be buying any new ones if they have this always connected crap in everything. Plus I’ll also return to piracy. If going legit means I’m being punished for handing over my hard-earned cash, I may as well not hand over the cash.

    Reply

  22. Decembermaloy

    March 8, 2013 at 13:41

    I now have an idea who should play Cartman in the Live-action South Park movie….

    Reply

  23. Travis Pike

    March 8, 2013 at 14:53

    always online single player game ——

    http://nooooooooooooooo.com/

    Reply

  24. Banana Jim

    March 8, 2013 at 16:56

    Banana says “No”. I don’t buy games that come with “always online” DRM and I never will. I know that as the technology is going to be perfected the launches will become smoother and the masses will eventually forget what the fuss was all about, but any attempt to curtail my enjoyment of a title and the possibility to play it 15 years from now, gets an immediate fail from me.

    EA… go fuck yourself!

    Reply

  25. Rian Mostert

    March 11, 2013 at 13:55

    There are many reasons why Always online is a terrible Idea.
    But to me, there are three that shine above the rest.
    Firstly the fact that I live in South Africa means that latency is always an issue when trying to play online and don’t even get me started with connection stability.
    Secondly, the amount of people who can play at the same time are limited by the capacity of the servers.
    Thirdly, and this is extremely important, What happens when these always online servers go down, I’m not referring to a server crash, I’m referring to when the company hosting the service shuts down the service indefinitely. I bought a game, but now I no longer play it because it’s old. Excuse me but I paid for this!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Check Also

Crash Bandicoot 4 on PC disappoints everyone with its always-online DRM

Don’t you love being locked out of a game that doesn’t even feature online multiplayer bec…