The ongoing debate surrounding games that mandate an always-online connection has taken an interesting turn, as Activision has opted to remove this requirement for the Steam Deck edition of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2.
This significant change was discreetly revealed in succinct patch notes released on October 18, which also confirmed that “the keyboard overlay now works properly for Steam Deck users.” The crucial update simply stated, “Steam Deck users can now play offline.” This announcement follows closely on the heels of the game’s release on Steam, which occurred on October 3.
It’s important to note that this adjustment exclusively pertains to Steam Deck users. The standard PC Steam version still necessitates a continuous online connection. The same holds true for the Epic Games Store version, which originally launched in 2020. Players on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch remain unaffected, as offline play has always been possible on these console platforms.
Another game grappling with the always-online requirement is Payday 3, which was released last month on both PC and consoles. The game encountered a plethora of server and matchmaking issues during its launch, hindering players from diving into the action. While developer Starbreeze Studios has since announced that these problems have been resolved, the studio acknowledged the need for a more reliable matchmaking partner in the long run. They also expressed the possibility of making Payday 3 less dependent on online services.
Tobias Sjögren, the CEO of Starbreeze Studios, provided further insight on Twitter, mentioning the exploration of an “offline mode” but refrained from confirming its development. No further information has emerged regarding this concept since the initial discussion.
