Earlier this year, Capcom ventured into the mobile gaming market with their blockbuster franchise, Resident Evil, by releasing some of the franchise’s best titles: Resident Evil 7, Resident Evil Village, and the Resident Evil 4 remake on the iOS.
The ports got mixed receptions overall and they struggled to gain significant attention from the public, likely due to several factors, including the novelty of such major titles coming to the mobile platform for the first time and the performance issues that accompanied the releases.
Another issue has now surfaced with the ports, as the iOS versions of the three games now require an internet connection at startup.
Importance: The requirement of an internet connection to play single-player titles has become an increasingly common trend in the gaming industry, a development that many believe is negatively impacting the industry.
All three games now include a note in their update logs stating:
“Due to changes to the startup process, an internet connection is now required when starting this app.”
However, Capcom has not provided an official explanation for this new requirement. Speculation suggests that this may be a form of digital rights management (DRM) intended to combat piracy.
The need for an online connection presents a significant inconvenience for users, as it effectively makes the games unplayable in situations where an internet connection is unavailable.
While many iPhone users typically have access to a data connection, there are numerous scenarios where connectivity could be an issue—such as in underground locations, remote areas, or on flights.
The situation is potentially even more problematic for iPad users, who often rely on Wi-Fi rather than cellular data to connect online.
The update has led some players to seek refunds, particularly given the premium pricing of the games.
Although Resident Evil 7, Resident Evil Village, and the Resident Evil 4 remake are free to download with demo sections available, the full versions are costly—$20 each for Resident Evil 7 and Village, and $60 for Resident Evil 4. Additionally, each title offers $20 DLC packs.
As players continue to express their dissatisfaction, it remains to be seen whether Capcom will address these concerns or provide further clarification on the reasons behind this change. For now, the update has added a layer of frustration to what were otherwise well-received ports of these popular titles.
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