Starbreeze, the developers behind the anticipated release of Payday 3, have confirmed one significant difference from its predecessors at the Xbox Games Showcase last month. The latest installment of the popular heist-themed game will require a constant internet connection, even for solo gameplay. Almir Listo, the global brand director at Starbreeze, confirmed this during a recent livestream, marking a departure from the offline capabilities of Payday 1 and 2.

During the livestream, a viewer queried about the possibility of an offline mode for Payday 3. In response, Listo stated, "No, you will be able to play by yourself, but I do believe you will have to have a connection in order to play cause it's made in the Unreal Engine, it's using cross-progression, crossplay, I do believe we need you to be online." This comes as a surprise since its predecessors allowed you to play solo and offline, engaging in various robber versus cop heists with AI assistance.

The 'always online' feature is becoming increasingly common in many video games. Developers often justify this requirement as a means to maintain the integrity of various progression mechanics in the game. The recent Diablo 4 is another example of a game adopting this approach. However, this feature brings with it several setbacks, such as limiting gameplay for those without a steady internet connection. Moreover, it hampers the ability to mod games and can render them unplayable once developers decide to take the servers offline when it's no longer profitable.

As a fan of first-person shooters, the freedom to manipulate the game to my preference is a valued feature. Being forced to stay online all the time restricts that freedom and can detract from the gaming experience. While Payday 3 and Starbreeze aren't the only ones to take this route, potential buyers should be aware of this requirement before making a purchasing decision.

In conclusion, the shift to an 'always online' model is a prevalent trend in the gaming industry, and Payday 3 is the latest addition to this list. Despite the potential drawbacks, it remains to be seen how this new feature will impact the overall gaming experience. The game is set for launch on September 21st, and gamers worldwide are waiting eagerly to see if the pros will outweigh the cons.