Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance PC doesn't work offline
UPDATE: Konami claims to have fixed always online bug.
UPDATE: Konami has claimed to have fixed the bug that meant the PC version of action game Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance couldn't be played offline.
"MGR PC Update - offline problems *should* now be fixed," wrote Kojima Productions European brand manager Steve Key on Twitter. "All new downloads will be fine - those who already downloaded, files should just be replaced. Please let me know how you get on and thanks so much for your patience and support."
ORIGINAL STORY: Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance's PC port was released today on Steam, but there's a problem: it doesn't run offline.
At least that's what dozens of users are reporting on the game's Steam discussion page. This is especially baffling as Revengeance is a single-player only game. The consumer fury was only heightened as the game's Steam store page said nothing of this restriction.
Upon first glance, it would appear to be some sort of insidious DRM on publisher Konami's part, but upon further investigation the culprit could be Valve due to an issue with Steam's API.
NeoGAF user Guess Who found that using a modified API in Steam's Offline mode solved the problem, though that's not the simplest solution. "This is definitely a function of the way MGR uses the Steam API," Guess Who stated. "Using a modified steam_api.dll allows it to work in Steam Offline mode. I can't say whether it's a bug or deliberate implementation, but it's not any other sort of DRM, all Steam."
Platinum Games producer J.P. Kellams tweeted that he's looking into the problem, but he's tied up in meetings all day. D'oh!
We've reached out to both Konami and Valve to try to sort out what's going on here and if it will be fixed anytime soon. We've yet to hear back, but we'll update if we hear more.
It's a shame this had to happen to Metal Gear Rising as EG-contributor Rich Stanton called it "a thrilling and almost flawless fighting game" in his Revengeance review. It then went on to become the recipient of Eurogamer's prestigious Most Rewarding Finishing Move award.