Over time, the video games we play have been progressively tying us to the internet more and more. While this makes sense for solely online multiplayer games, for other types of games, requiring a constant online connection through Digital Rights Management (DRM) can be frustrating.
One crucial aspect is including an offline single-player option in games for long-term preservation. Eventually, a game’s servers won’t stay active forever, and when they do shut down, having this mode ensures you can continue to play the game you own even without internet access. Without it, the game will become unplayable once the servers are turned off.
It’s crucial to consider offline play too, given that not everyone has consistent and dependable internet access. While it may seem distant to me, residing in a large US city in the Pacific Northwest with reliable service, it’s a reality faced by many worldwide due to socioeconomic factors, remote living conditions, or subpar infrastructure.
Yesterday afternoon marked the first time in what feels like forever that I experienced an internet outage. A sudden power failure in my area disrupted my connection for most of the day, which was particularly inconvenient since I had some urgent Xbox Games Showcase news to report. While a brief respite from work can be welcome, not being able to complete a time-sensitive article on schedule was definitely aggravating. Fortunately, a colleague stepped in to handle the assignment for me.
Since I couldn’t work anymore, I thought it might be nice to pass some time by playing a game. This led me to sift through my Steam library, questioning what games I had installed that didn’t require an internet connection. This quest brought me to the newly released Elden Ring: Nightreign, a daring roguelike offshoot from FromSoftware based on the much-loved 2022 ARPG.
Nightreign, similar to other games by FromSoftware, was initially conceived as a three-player cooperative game. However, it also caters to single players, with the added convenience of offline playability. Your progress is saved locally and synchronized to the cloud whenever you reconnect to the internet. A recent update has significantly enhanced the solo experience, making it thrilling to explore Limveld and confront the Nightlord bosses on your own.
Playing multiple rounds on Nightreign swiftly passed the time, and when my internet service provider finally managed to reinstate service in my neighborhood, I couldn’t help but feel grateful towards game developers like FromSoftware who continue to prioritize offline play options. It’s a feature that might slip my mind until I need it again for months or even longer, but when the need arises, it’s there—a convenience that many players rely on daily.
It’s unfortunate that constantly-connected Digital Rights Management (DRM) is becoming more prevalent in numerous games, especially those with a solo mode or structure, as they could potentially function without internet connection. I get the rationale behind combating piracy, but to be honest, such DRM hasn’t appeared very efficient at achieving that goal. In the long run, it’s the players who suffer, particularly those experiencing frequent or intermittent connectivity issues, as they risk losing access to their games.
Hey there! I just wanted to express my gratitude to FromSoftware and Elden Ring Nightreign, along with Warhorse Studios and the upcoming Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2. It’s heartening to see such studios delivering offline play options, even though it isn’t as prevalent in today’s gaming landscape as I’d prefer. Kudos to those developers who keep this feature alive for us gamers when we need it most!
As an analyst, I am excited to share my perspective on Elden Ring: Nightreign, a daring and innovative spinoff from FromSoftware that breathes fresh life into the combat system of the original game by blending it with roguelike mechanics and a cooperative focus. Despite certain challenges such as limited map diversity or less-than-impressive enemy variety,
Retailing at $39.99, you can seize an exclusive opportunity to save by purchasing it for just $33.99 on Newegg with the promo code SUMET982.
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2025-06-11 23:09