Regarding the always-online connection

[Ronno72]

I learned recently that the game requires a constant internet connection to play the game. First it was just the pilot career that was apparently locked behind always online, single missions weren't affected. Now it seems you can't even start the game itself without a connection to a central server. Is there any end-of-life plan in place for us to keep playing when the servers inevitably end up being too costly to keep up? 

[dryheat94]

It's the launcher that requires Internet access. You can start it offline by going to the bin/game folder and double clicking the IL-2.exe file.

[Ronno72]

9 hours ago, dryheat94 said:

It's the launcher that requires Internet access. You can start it offline by going to the bin/game folder and double clicking the IL-2.exe file.

No dice. perhaps it's just a Steam thing but I still can't get to the menu.

[dryheat94]

I don't use the Steam version so can't help you there. Good luck.

[LukeFF]

Steam requires an Internet connection now at all times. 

[Dash,Polder]

I steam cleaned my system last time I did a fresh install of windows.  Never more Eleanor. 

[TrigunR]

...

Edited May 21 by TrigunR

[Cardolan]

I attempted right now to run five games on Steam without internet connection and was able to run four out of five without issues. Guess which one failed? Yes, IL2.

My experience with the game servers has been mixed. Sometimes they answer in a few seconds, in other instances I have to wait more than two minutes - probably, as I never clocked - to get validated and properly enter the game to the hangar menu.

I understand worries with piracy but it would be nice 1CGameStudios acknowledged to us that if the game servers ever go down due to product obsolescency, a full local version of the game is released to owners of the title.

Edited May 26 by Cardolan
Typo

[Hispazor]

It’s a questionable approach to customer experience. Placing additional restrictions is a poor marketing decision, especially so close to the Korea release.

These kinds of “always online” requirements are unlikely to improve the experience for most users, but they do add friction for legitimate customers who have already purchased the product.

Please reconsider this decision and focus on supporting paying players rather than adding unnecessary online requirements that reduce convenience.

 

 

Edited May 26 by Hispanvs

[FuriousMeow]

This always on connection requirement is nothing new, its been there since Rise of Flight since 2009. RoF development ceased about a decade ago but is still perfectly playable.

This isn't the first time a "what if the auth servers go down" topic has come up... and when the time comes I'm sure there will be a solution.

Its odd, though, to think this online connection requirement is something new that is suddenly going to impact Korea sales...

[Z_F]

Any notions of privacy have to be tempered in this day and age.

Privacy is the bigger issue here. 

[Cardolan]

The behaviour is different from some months ago.

When I last tested it, the game ran fine without an online connection except for the career that was unavailable. Now the program simply refuses to continue as the posted screenshot above shows.

As said, it would be nice if the devs assured us when the current game is no longer supported by 1C a version of it that can be run locally with full features included will be released.

[Gutholz]

1 hour ago, Cardolan said:

As said, it would be nice if the devs assured us when the current game is no longer supported by 1C a version of it that can be run locally with full features included will be released.

That would be good enough for me. I understand there is a need to protect against piracy, maybe especially so in niche markets like flight sims.

Right now the online-requirement is not problematic for me but I hope in the future the game will stay playable, also in mp.

Also see this interesting inniative: https://www.stopkillinggames.com / https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_Killing_Games

[Catch]

On 5/15/2026 at 2:33 PM, LukeFF said:

Steam requires an Internet connection now at all times. 

 

On 5/15/2026 at 11:05 AM, Ronno72 said:

On 5/15/2026 at 1:55 AM, dryheat94 said:

It's the launcher that requires Internet access. You can start it offline by going to the bin/game folder and double clicking the IL-2.exe file.

No dice. perhaps it's just a Steam thing but I still can't get to the menu.

It is a steam thing 🙂 as communicated by Luke. Why? I'm blowed if I know? Perhaps 1C can reverse this decision given the distress it's causing loyal customers, not to mention potentially affecting future sales!

I don't use steam myself 🙂 and can access offline mode via the launcher by clicking on "offline" when it pops up. Only career and multi is unavailable.

[Cardolan]

I don't know for sure if it is a Steam thing but it certainly does not look like one.

If I turn off my internet and Steam client, I am able to run other 4 Steam games (TransOcean2, Europa Universalis 5, Battle Brothers and Port Royale 4). The only one (out of the five tested) that didn't allow me to proceed playing was IL2... so something is probably amiss.

[LukeFF]

Recently, we've been receiving questions from you about whether the game requires a constant internet connection.

The changes to the Steam authentication system are intended to improve the user experience, not to combat piracy.

Previously, when the game started, it tried to connect to the Steam API. This was necessary to obtain the user's SteamID and determine which content was acquired through Steam. If the content was purchased on the website and the accounts were linked, it was also added to the game. When the Steam API responded, everything worked as expected. However, if the game was unable to connect to Steam (for example, due to a remote client, a disrupted internet connection, or an error), it used a backup login mechanism that required entering the username and password from the official website. This method was used if the game was launched through a separate launcher, but it was actually a fallback option for the Steam version. On Steam, the login process should occur automatically, and the game should load directly to the main menu without a login screen.

This backup mechanism was often confusing. For example, you just bought a game on Steam and launch it for the first time. For some reason, the Steam API does not return your SteamID, and the game asks for a login and password. You register a new account on the website, receive confirmation, and enter the details in the game. However, even the Battle of Stalingrad, purchased on Steam, remains locked. The outcome in this case was quite expected: a refund and a negative review. There have been many such cases, so changes have been made to the system. Now, the Steam version of the game does not display the backup login screen. Instead, an error message appears asking you to restart the game or ensure that the Steam client is running. Once you do this, the game successfully retrieves your SteamID and grants access to the purchased content.
The game requires a response from Steam in order to offer the desired content.

As for server shutdowns, this sometimes happens with games that rely on powerful, expensive servers for multiplayer modes. In IL2, multiplayer servers can be hosted anywhere, so this is not a problem. The game's authentication server is less demanding.

Previously, the game did not work fully offline. Offline login was possible after a successful online login, but not indefinitely. Career mode and multiplayer did not work offline. If you have any questions, we will be happy to answer them in a separate topic: 

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В последнее время мы получаем от вас вопросы о том, что игра требует постоянного подключения к интернету.

Изменения в системе аутентификации Steam внесены для улучшения пользовательского опыта, а не для борьбы с пиратством.

Раньше при запуске игра пыталась подключиться к Steam API. Это нужно было для получения SteamID пользователя, чтобы определить, какой контент получен через Steam. Если контент был приобретен на веб-сайте и учетные записи были связаны, он также добавлялся в игру. При ответе от Steam API, все работало корректно.

Однако, если игра не могла подключиться к Steam (например, из-за удаленного клиента, отключенного интернета или ошибки), она использовала резервный механизм входа — логин и пароль от профиля на официальном сайте. Этот метод применялся, если игра запускалась через отдельный лаунчер, но фактически был запасным вариантом для Steam-версии. В Steam процесс входа должен происходить автоматически, и игра должна сразу загружаться в главное меню без экрана входа.

Подобный резервный механизм часто сбивал с толку. Например, вы только что купили игру в Steam и запускаете её в первый раз. По какой-то причине Steam API не возвращает ваш SteamID, и игра запрашивает логин и пароль. Вы регистрируете новую учетную запись на веб-сайте, получаете подтверждение и вводите данные в игру. Однако даже «Битва за Сталинград», купленная в Steam, остается заблокированной. Итог в этом случае был довольно закономерным: возврат денег и отрицательный отзыв.
Таких случаев было много, поэтому в систему были внесены изменения. Теперь Steam-версия игры не показывает экран резервного входа. Вместо этого появляется сообщение об ошибке с просьбой перезапустить игру или убедиться, что клиент Steam запущен. После этого игра успешно получает ваш SteamID и предоставляет доступ к купленному контенту.
Игре необходим ответ от Steam, чтобы предложить нужный контент.

Что касается отключения серверов — такое иногда происходит с играми, которые используют мощные и дорогостоящие серверы для многопользовательских режимов. В «Ил-2» многопользовательские серверы можно размещать где угодно, поэтому это не проблема. Сервер аутентификации в игре менее требователен.

Ранее игра не работала полностью в автономном режиме. Автономный вход был возможен после успешного онлайн-входа, но не бесконечно. Режим карьеры и мультиплеер в автономном режиме не работали. Надеемся, это проясняет ситуацию. Если у вас есть вопросы, мы готовы на них ответить в отдельной теме в Обсуждениях -