Anno 117: Pax Romana Demo Ignites Fury Over Mandatory Always-Online DRM for Single-Player

The highly anticipated demo for Anno 117: Pax Romana has finally arrived, offering eager fans a glimpse into the next installment of Ubisoft's beloved city-building strategy series. However, the excitement has quickly turned into widespread frustration and significant backlash, all due to a single, critical issue: the game's requirement for a persistent internet connection, even when playing in single-player mode.

This "always-online" mandate for solo gameplay has ignited a firestorm within the Anno community and the broader gaming world.

Players are expressing deep disappointment and anger over what they perceive as an intrusive and unnecessary form of Digital Rights Management (DRM). For a series traditionally celebrated for its intricate single-player campaigns and and the freedom to build and manage empires at one's own pace, this decision feels like a stark betrayal of core player expectations.

The sentiment across forums, social media, and gaming news sites is overwhelmingly negative.

Many fans are questioning why a fundamentally single-player experience needs constant server authentication, especially when it creates vulnerabilities for playability. What happens if internet service is interrupted? What about players in regions with unreliable connections? And perhaps most critically, what about the long-term preservation of the game if Ubisoft decides to shut down its authentication servers years down the line?

This move is particularly perplexing as it marks a significant departure from previous Anno titles.

For instance, while Anno 1800 featured online components for its multiplayer, its extensive and popular single-player campaign remained fully playable offline. This allowed players to enjoy their sprawling cities without concern for connectivity, a freedom that appears to be absent in Anno 117: Pax Romana.

Critics argue that such stringent DRM not only undermines player ownership but also sets a dangerous precedent for future titles, especially in genres where offline play is paramount.

The concerns extend beyond mere inconvenience; they touch upon fundamental aspects of consumer rights and the longevity of digital purchases. Players worry that their ability to access and enjoy a game they’ve bought could be arbitrarily revoked by server issues or corporate decisions.

This backlash comes at a challenging time for Ubisoft, which has recently been attempting to mend its relationship with its player base after a series of controversial decisions and game launches.

The implementation of an always-online requirement for a single-player Anno title seems to directly contradict these efforts, reigniting old criticisms about the publisher's approach to DRM and its regard for player autonomy.

As the demo continues to be played and discussed, the pressure is mounting on Ubisoft to address these concerns.

The community's message is clear: the core Anno experience should not be held hostage by an internet connection. Whether Ubisoft will listen to this passionate plea and reconsider its DRM strategy for Anno 117: Pax Romana remains to be seen, but the controversy is undoubtedly casting a long shadow over the game's initial release.