1C Game Studios LukeFF Posted May 27 1C Game Studios Posted May 27 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. We hope this clarifies the situation. If you have any questions, we are here to answer them. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. 3
Aapje Posted May 28 Posted May 28 So I guess that the new situation is that people who need offline play, should use the non-Steam version. However, it seems to me that it leaves the people who depended on this and who own the Steam version, in the cold. Perhaps a solution is possible that satisfies both the refund issues, but also helps those who lost functionality? For example, give people who bought modules on Steam, the option to turn these into keys for the non-Steam version. Or give people who own the Steam version an option to re-enable the backup login screen in a way that casual players won't find. Or some other solution.
Hispazor Posted May 28 Posted May 28 So basically you made the matter worse and now the new login system, apart from hurting people's experience with bugs (see steam forum bugs reports), also constrains the user with a permanent connexion. As I stated before in the other post, 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. I need to agree with @Aapje in one matter. I feel like you should give steam customers a fair resolution without relying on permanent conection. There are many games that do this and doesn't require online requirements.
oscarames71 Posted May 28 Posted May 28 I bought the game directly from Il-2, and I cannot log in online, is it because I deleted STEAM from my PC?
AEthelraedUnraed Posted May 28 Posted May 28 5 hours ago, Hispanvs said: So basically you made the matter worse and now the new login system, apart from hurting people's experience with bugs (see steam forum bugs reports), also constrains the user with a permanent connexion. I don't think a permanent connection is needed; as far as I understand you just need to be connected at logon. I think Luke provides a good explanation/reasoning for the changes and I can understand why it was done. Still, I agree with Aapje that there should be some other option. Steam offers an offline mode that also works with DLCs, so apparently it does have some kind of cached database of which purchases you made. I don't know much about its inner workings, but it seems that in theory it should be possible to do something similar with IL2? 3 hours ago, oscarames71 said: I bought the game directly from Il-2, and I cannot log in online, is it because I deleted STEAM from my PC? No. If you bought IL2 directly from the website, you do not need Steam to run it and you can freely remove it.
Rex Posted May 30 Posted May 30 I'm not sure why everyone thinks this is related to Steam. I bought IL-2 directly from the company website, and I did so because I felt that the developer of IL-2 deserved the 30% share of their revenue more than Valve did. Steam is not a party to my interaction with IL-2. Yet, I was locked out all evening with the very same message of IL-2. I could reach certain parts, like Quick Mission, but I was logging in to put some time into my 'Career' and I learned that this part is not available when the login server is down. I'm not sure why, I guess it keeps some aspect of Career mode on the companies servers.
AEthelraedUnraed Posted May 31 Posted May 31 On 5/30/2026 at 6:24 AM, Rex said: I'm not sure why everyone thinks this is related to Steam. Because it happens after a change in the authentication method of the Steam version of the game, as the Devs themselves say. 😉 See LukeFF's post at the top of this thread. If you use the non-Steam version, whatever issues you're having are not related.
Rex Posted June 3 Posted June 3 (edited) On 5/31/2026 at 1:45 AM, AEthelraedUnraed said: Because it happens after a change in the authentication method of the Steam version of the game, as the Devs themselves say. 😉 See LukeFF's post at the top of this thread. If you use the non-Steam version, whatever issues you're having are not related. Fair enough, but it's coincidental that I was having the exact same problem with the exact same error message at the exact same point in the login in the exact same timeframe as the Steam users. It also resolved around the same time. Not saying that coincidences don't happen. I heard about this guy who won the lottery once ... Is it possible that this always-online requirement not in fact, limited only to Steam? I could access Quick Missions, so maybe just certain parts (like career) are not available to everyone when the auth sever is down. Then again, I'm not sure that it really matters. I hereby concede this and all related points. Edited June 3 by Rex
AEthelraedUnraed Posted June 3 Posted June 3 2 hours ago, Rex said: Fair enough, but it's coincidental that I was having the exact same problem with the exact same error message at the exact same point in the login in the exact same timeframe as the Steam users. It also resolved around the same time. Not saying that coincidences don't happen. I heard about this guy who won the lottery once ... Is it possible that this always-online requirement not in fact, limited only to Steam? I could access Quick Missions, so maybe just certain parts (like career) are not available to everyone when the auth sever is down. Then again, I'm not sure that it really matters. I hereby concede this and all related points. I again refer you to LukeFF's opening post, which has a rather extensive description of the login process 🙂 On 5/27/2026 at 6:52 PM, LukeFF said: 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. So yes, you can also get the error message if you use the non-Steam version, after which you can still access Quick Missions and Single Missions for a "not indefinite" time. It's been like that since the beginning, and it used to be the same for Steam users. However the change is that the latter now aren't able to access the game at all anymore if for some reason their internet connection fails.
Recommended Posts