The focus on online versus offline competition remains a key aspect of racing games.
The focus on online versus offline competition remains a key aspect of racing games.
There is a situation going on with racing games that I feel didn't reach the whole of the gaming community and it should. This is an important time to push against always online games. TDUSC was released on September 12. An always online racing "mmo". Whatever that means. As expected it launched with server issues. The Devs tried gaslighting players by publicly stating the network issues were fixed and denying any problems. The game is still unplayable for some due to server issues after a "big patch", which happened yesterday and took the servers offline all day. Perhaps more infuriating is that the game can be played without interacting with people. Due to server issues many do not find other players at all and always play with ai, on the console space if you don't have a subscription to play online the game will still work but you will only play with ai. It's time we say no to always online games that don't need to be. And Ubisoft has given us the chance to do so. The day tdusc released it was announced the crew 2 and the crew motorfest would be getting offline patches. They also heavily discounted these games. As a result the crew 2 gained a massive player base that dwarfed tdu. I'm hopeful the crew will lead by example but we need to support these games when the patch releases to show companies this is the way forward.
No, right now is not the time to praise Ubisoft for doing the thing they should've been doing from the beginning. Now is the time to apply even more pressure to regulate this stuff and legally mandate that games are sold goods that you own, not a temporary license that can be revoked at any time. This is as perfect a moment as there ever was.
Ubisoft isn't deserving of praise. They should release the update and re-release The Crew before expecting me to play it again. I won’t purchase their titles because they broke my experience and can’t deliver. This issue affects more than just Ubisoft—it spans the entire company. I see live service games differently; they’re not the same. While I enjoy racing titles like Midnight Club, I’d happily buy a Forza game if it were available offline. The short lifespan of these services frustrates me, especially in racing. I find it hard to believe that forcing an always-online model improves a game, particularly in this genre.
From the start, I recognized The Crew was designed as a live service title (the name hinted at team play), yet some players didn’t grasp that. This doesn’t change how I feel about it being so—it just means I didn’t share the excitement I expected. I’m not thrilled about the fact they’re planning updates for later games, especially since they seemed to emphasize online functionality beforehand. TDUSC feels like a surprise, because I thought the older titles were fully offline with optional online features, and that was what fans anticipated from this new version.
I see the gaming scene revolves around teamwork, though The Crew is a title that doesn’t require constant collaboration. You can still enjoy races or missions solo. It’s true it’s enjoyable with friends, but the game works just fine without them. I’m not concerned about online play or multiplayer; my main concern is when games like The Crew demand you be available all the time.
I completely understand, I purchased all The Crew titles and never engaged with them directly with others except for leaderboards. My main concern was that The Crew was available only from the start, it would eventually shut down as it was marketed as an MMO without a monthly fee—though that seemed misleading. The issue is they aim to promote these games competitively online and prevent cheating during offline sessions, which they enforce by requiring online play. Ideally, players should be able to enjoy offline mode without anti-cheat measures, with leaderboards active only when playing online. This approach was common in older titles. Personally, I never appreciated the original design, though it had a better map for cars than the sequel (for some odd reason, they stripped landmarks to improve boats and planes instead of expanding the map). I miss the days when LAN play was an option for such experiences.
It's a small indie title, so nothing special about it. I believe the main issue is people buying games from questionable companies, which seems to be the bigger concern. I just tried Assetto Corsa Competizione... the driving feels... well... "ok"... (I mean great, but it’s really just average). The real problems are... sounds: meh shadows: why does it keep loading shadows? effects: dust? tire rubber? flying grass? tire marks...? anything? There’s nothing at all... just to mention I only played Hotlap but still... everything feels too clean, no real immersion. I’ve had the same problem with most racing games I’ve tried lately... Maybe Forza does better, I’m not sure, but handling there felt more like a sleep aid than a race. The original Toca games, Gran Tourismo, Le Mans 24... *those* were immersive, realistic, and fun!
You need to acknowledge their positive aspects. If you constantly criticize them, they won’t receive clear guidance and might miss the best route. I’m not advocating for excessive praise toward Ubisoft, but I do appreciate this specific effort. I’m also okay with holding off on the patch until it’s released.
I'm currently playing CarX Street on PC and can only suggest doing the same. The game always begins in offline mode, so you must actively decide to switch online. This is the only proper way to handle it. F*ck Ubisoft, EA, and anyone else pushing TDU. We do, and the only positive thing they provide is publishing Anno. It's essentially their best game. They missed many opportunities. I hope they go bankrupt and sell their IP to someone who truly cares.