Xbox Addict

Turn 10: Forza 5 requires one-time online connection to work at all

Day one patches are nothing unusual in games nowadays, but this is new: a game that won’t run without the patch. Forza Motorsport 5 for Xbox One will require a one-time connection to Xbox Live before you can play the game. Without a connection, the game won’t run at all.

“When you first boot up the game, we’re going to ask you to log in,” Turn 10 Studios’ Dan Greenawalt explained. “And when you log in you’re going to get the Drivatars and you’re also going to get a whole bunch of content: tracks and cars," adding that it’s "required content to play the game."

While it’s unlikely to pose much of a problem for the audience reading this post, Forza’s online requirement echoes the draconian DRM policy that caused so much trouble for Microsoft in the first place.

According to Greenawalt, the day-one download will help Turn 10 cram as much content into the game as possible--even if it isn’t on the disc. "Our production schedule is such that we are putting them in as late as possible and that means making them free as downloadable content on Day One," he told IGN.

Of course, you’re free to play the game offline after the one-time download. However, Greenawalt argues that "all of the cloud and online features make the game far, far better. In fact I’d even say revolutionary. The things we’re doing with opponents and Drivatar are not something that anyone can envision unless you’ve played it. But we’re trying to get as much of that into the unconnected, offline mode as well."