10 Most Insulting Video Game Industry Habits (That Have To End)

Contemporary multiplayer gaming is defined by players connecting to others across the world through nothing more than a router and a headset. Many gamers will fluctuate indiscriminately between remote pursuits with their ‘real life’ friends and those that they only know virtually. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that – the ability to partake in activities with others without having to be in their physical proximity has been a lifesaver over the last couple of years and is convenient even in a non-pandemic situation.

What is wrong is when games have online multiplayer, but lack an offline equivalent. Flash back to the late 90s or early 00s and multiplayer gaming was defined by crowding around a television considered miniscule by modern standards, squinting to play two or four player games on split screen. From Mario Kart to Timesplitters, the possibilities were endless.

Gaming like this is still an enjoyable pursuit when time and societal conditions allow, but it is an experience, alongside offline co-op play on campaigns, that developers have neglected for far too long. Offline options are now often either barebones or completely non-existent, even in games where their presence would be logical, such as racers or shooters.

We live in an increasingly isolated world. Restricting offline multiplayer does nothing to alleviate that.