10 Video Game Features Devs Deleted Because Of YOU
4. Always-Online Requirement (SimCity 2013)
The launch of SimCity (2013), the long-awaited reboot of the popular Sim series, was a notorious piece of gaming history, as it was a release so hated by fans that it sparked mass outrage. Interestingly, unlike other flawed game releases that have multiple issues, this abysmal launch had one terrible feature to point the finger at - the always-online requirement.
Despite offering a single-player experience, this game forced players to be connected online to play, with many pointing to Digital Rights Management or a desire to see the multiplayer regions mode succeed as the culprit. Either way, it irked players and then some, even causing major server connectivity issues. This meant that playing the game, even on your own, became nearly impossible for many.
Ultimately, the reaction from fans was apocalyptic, with an online petition to remove this feature reaching close to 80,000 signatures. Yikes. EA was unable to ignore the backlash and finally added an offline mode in the 10th update patch. This effectively got rid of the always-online requirements, but for many, the damage was already done.