Though the ability to play offline was a welcome change of features after Microsoft rescinded from their daily online requirement, it seems as though gamers who simply don’t have an internet connection won’t be able to play the game at all, unless they bring their Xbox One and a copy of Forza 5 to an internet-capable area for the one-time activation. The update will then download a plethora of drivatars, racetracks and vehicles, making it quite a hefty update.

During this year’s San Diego Comic-Con, Turn 10 Studios’ own Dan Greenawalt explained the reasoning behind the one-time online activation. Beyond that, gamers will be free to explore the vastly detailed world at anytime, online or no:

Essentially, Greenawalt is saying that since the game has to release as a launch title, the on-disc content must be finalized much earlier than November. To make up for this, once the disc is finalized, the studio will be working on a digital content update which gamers will be required to install when they first boot up the game. Thankfully, Greenawalt believes the update should be able to load in the background while players enjoy the disc-based game itself, though it might make one wonder why the update is considered ‘mandatory’ if the game can clearly be played without it.

Turn 10 Studios are putting in plenty of effort for the new Drivatar system, which supports the AI replications of online friends. The artificial intelligence learns how your friends play, and evolves the skills and decisions of each AI to reflect that of each human. Even when the humans are offline, players can play against a friend’s drivatar for some digital glory — and updating the drivatar database is one of the reasons Turns 10 Studios needed the one-time activation.

It’s just a shame that the unconnected, offline mode requires that one-time internet roadblock. Here’s hoping that fans without internet have a charitable buddy when they pick up the game!

What do you think, Ranters? Do you mind having a mandatory one-time connection, or would you prefer it if Forza Motorsport 5 was capable of completely offline play?

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Forza Motorsport 5 will be available alongside the Xbox One later this November.

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Source: IGN