Epic's Fortnite May Require Always-On Internet

[kitsuta]

Epic's Fortnite May Require Always-On Internet

Fortnite's "primarily" co-op gameplay may necessitate a constant connection.

Since it was first popularized by Ubisoft way back in 2010, so-called 'always-on' DRM has been a major point of contention in the industry. Ubisoft unfortunate complications [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/111951-Ubisoft-Says-Always-On-DRM-A-Success] to say the least. Now it's possible that Epic Games' new PC tower defense game Fortnite will be the next game to require a constant connection, but the final decision will have more to do with the game's co-op gameplay than with a fear of pirates.

Speaking to Rock, Paper, Shotgun in an interview, Epic Producer Tanya Jessen revealed that the upcoming game will be "developed as a co-op experience primarily." So, while the studio has not ruled out requiring a constant connection to play, it wants to do what's "more relevant to the most fun experience you can have with your friends." It will also depend on factors outside the game, like the frequent updates Epic alluded to at San-Diego Comic-Con [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/118446-Epic-Games-Fortnite-is-Designed-for-PC] last weekend.

An always-online connection required for gameplay makes more sense for multiplayer-focused games, but it still leaves players with a choppy or even non-existent connection out in the cold. Requiring a connection to an external server could also mean a premature death for the game if Epic decides to cut support without an offline-enabling patch. Jessen gave no indication of when Epic would decide whether or not to require a constant connection.

Source: Rock, Paper, Shotgun [http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/07/19/exclusive-epic-mulling-always-online-for-fortnite/]

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[therandombear]

Don't do it Epic. I was actually interested in this game. :C

Hope they don't add it though.

 

[ThePS1Fan]

And there goes all interest I had in this game.

 

[Kungfu_Teddybear]

And cue everyone crying about how requiring an always-on connection ruins games.

 

[antipunt]

PC-exclusive games seem to come hand and hand with 'almost-always-online' nowadays.

AND WE ALL KNOW WHY DAT IS RITE GAIS?
D:

 

[Allthingsspectacular]

NOPE

Cross that off of the games I'm willing to buy. Unless Epic changes their mind.

PC-exclusive games seem to come hand and hand with 'almost-always-online' nowadays.

AND WE ALL KNOW WHY DAT IS RITE GAIS?
D:

Because PC games have better internet than console games do?

 

[FogHornG36]

Epic is trying to get the love of pc gamers with this game... by calling them all criminals.

 

[Falterfire]

Well, I've never heard of this game before. That said, this single factor would cause me to stop wanting to buy it. I don't feel like supporting companies that think treating the customer like a criminal is good business. If there is a single player mode the game has no business requiring me to be online to play it. Hell, even EA gets this right, and they seem to be doing their very best to screw over the customer in every way possible.

 

[cidbahamut]

Just another company to add to the black list.

Seriously, unless you're running an MMO, there is absolutely no justification for requiring always-online in your game.

 

[teebeeohh]

Just another company to add to the black list.

Seriously, unless you're running an MMO, there is absolutely no justification for requiring always-online in your game.

tf2 is always online and that is not an MMO *duck*
this would upset me if i hadn't decided to never buy epic games after they didn't release gears 2 on the PC

 

[matrix3509]

Jesus tap-dancing Christ, the reasons just keep piling up to never buy another Epic game. ITS LIKE THEY DON'T WANT CUSTOMERS.

 

[Littaly]

I'm looking forward to hear what Cliff Bleszinski is gonna say to justify this while still attempting to maintain his street-cred.

 

[matrix3509]

And cue everyone crying about how requiring an always-on connection ruins games.

Cue a vocal minority of spineless gamers crying about how, "This will totally not set a bad precedent for PC games. Like, we know we said the exact same thing with Ubisoft and Blizzard, but third times the charm right gaise??

 

[Rednog]

I'm looking forward to hear what Cliff Bleszinski is gonna say to justify this while still attempting to maintain his street-cred.

CliffyB has 0 "street-cred" with PC gamers, he's been spitting on them and calling them filthy pirates for years.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

Just another company to add to the black list.

Seriously, unless you're running an MMO, there is absolutely no justification for requiring always-online in your game.

tf2 is always online and that is not an MMO *duck*
this would upset me if i hadn't decided to never buy epic games after they didn't release gears 2 on the PC

So all those hours training with bots was just my imagination?

Huh.

Hou are PARTIALLY correct you need to be online to access your backpack, the ManCo store and get weapon drops. But you can still play with bots and the vanilla weapons offline.

 

[Worgen]

I thought this was being developed as a free to play game anyway? I would expect those to need to be constantly connected.

 

[Kungfu_Teddybear]

And cue everyone crying about how requiring an always-on connection ruins games.

Cue a vocal minority of spineless gamers crying about how, "This will totally not set a bad precedent for PC games. Like, we know we said the exact same thing with Ubisoft and Blizzard, but third times the charm right gaise??

Cue people taking my post too seriously and quoting me with hostile comments.

 

[Duckman]

...but the final decision will have more to do with the game's co-op gameplay than with a fear of pirates.

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Sounds like a load of crap to cover their asses