[0cf8612b2e1e]

Consoles are not the only place where this is happening. More PC games are requiring always-online access even for singleplayer content. User experience be damned.

I just had to refrain from a Steam purchase because I saw that it requires the Origin launcher, an EA account, and is always online. For a singleplayer game. Madness.

[hbn]

I remember when SimCity 2013 launched and caused a massive controversy because it required a constant online connection in order to play the game. The Xbox One also had to do calls home every few days to allow you to play games you purchased before Microsoft backtracked when it caused bad PR for them.

It only took a decade but now this stuff is just common practice and nobody cares about paying $100 for digital purchases that will be ripped away from them when some server is shut down in a few years.

Honestly, physical games are kind of a bust at this point too. Many games are shipped with incomplete versions of the game on the disc, and you're required to download some of, if not majority of the game when you insert it. Hell, some games are sold in physical cases but you open them up and instead of getting a disc/cartridge you get a piece of paper with a download code.