Crash Bandicoot 4 PC launched yesterday, and while the game is exclusive to Blizzard’s own Battle.net launcher, fans were not happy to discover that a single-player game like Crash Bandicoot has a restrictive Always-online DRM. While fans were able to look past this being a requirement for Diablo 3 on the PC, many fans are angry at the discovery.
Crash Bandicoot 4 PC requires a constant internet connection
Crash Bandicoot 4 was the first new entry into the series after almost a decade (if you don’t consider the PS2 games). Released for the PS4 and Xbox One in 2020 and PS5/Xbox Series X earlier this year, the game wouldn’t make it onto PCs until yesterday, March 26th.
That’s unfortunately when fans discovered that the game has an always-online DRM.
While an Always-Online DRM is nothing new in the PC gaming space, this is seen as anti-consumer for fans who are on weaker internet connections or are prone to disconnections.
This is also not taking into account the increasing length of levels in Crash Bandicoot 4, that can take as long as 10 to 15 minutes to complete if you are looking to go completionist on the game.
While this was to be expected from a game that is being sold on Battle.net as all the games offered on that platform can only be played with an online connection, many fans were hoping Crash 4 PC would be an exception to that rule.
While we have seen a similar parallel to this scenario, but in reverse. When Diablo 3 first launched on PC in 2012, it was the first game in the series to require a constant internet connection. Blizzard stated that the entire game was built around an always-online infrastructure.
However, the games then released on the PS3, Xbox 360 (2013), and PS4, Xbox One (2014), and Nintendo Switch (2018) without requiring a constant internet connection on the consoles.
As such, if you are hoping for the game to be playable without an internet connection which is the purpose of a single-player only game, you are going to be out of luck.
What are your thoughts on this decision? Let us know in the comments section below!
