Always-On Woes: Super Mario Run Requires A Constant Internet Connection

Nintendo has confirmed that Super Mario Run will require an always-on internet connection to play. This means, of course, that you won't be able to play the game in places where you can't maintain a connection to Nintendo's servers. Always-on internet connections have been implemented in the past to combat things like piracy, and that's the exact reason why Nintendo is including it here.

Speaking to Mashable, Nintendo chief visionary Shigeru Miyamoto confirmed the always-on state of the game, and noted that his company tried to find a way around it. Miyamoto says that Nintendo considered allowing folks to play Super Mario Run's main mode, World Tour, offline. Since Toad Rally and Kingdom Builder rely on network saves, however, Nintendo eventually decided to require a connection for World Tour as well, rather than reconnecting every time players switched between modes.

As far as Nintendo is concerned, this requirement is all about protecting its software. "For us, we view our software as being a very important asset for us," Miyamoto said through translator Bill Trinen. "And also for consumers who are purchasing the game, we want to make sure that we're able to offer it to them in a way that the software is secure, and that they're able to play it in a stable environment."

READ MORE: Super Mario Run hands-onWhen asked for clarification, Miyamoto confirmed that he was talking about piracy when he mentioned "security." He noted that this is unlike the typical Nintendo release – whereas games for Nintendo's own platforms usually launch in a limited number of territories, Super Mario Run will be launching in 150, hence the need for tighter security. It sounds like the scale of Super Mario Run's launch is making Nintendo a little nervous.

We'll see how this works out for Nintendo, but gamers typically haven't taken too kindly to the always-on requirement in the past. With mobile games it's a little different, as many of the more popular ones require consistent internet connections as well. With that in mind, it's possible that a majority of mobile gamers won't care, but for people who have been through the always-on song and dance before, this news might sting a little.

SOURCE: Mashable