Day-One Update Required to Play Physical Copies of 25-Year-Old RPG Remake

If you’re eyeing a physical copy of the upcoming remake of the classic 2001 title Gothic, you might want to reconsider if you value game preservation. The developers have confirmed that the physical version will require a day-one update to function.

On May 22, a tweet from an account dedicated to tracking the playability of physical game releases revealed that the Gothic remake would need an internet connection. This was uncovered when some early copies were tested without the day-one patch, resulting in an error message that demanded online access.

“Cancel your pre-orders! Gothic Remake is unplayable offline,” the account stated, which quickly gained traction and prompted a response from the developers. They clarified that while the game doesn’t require a constant online connection, it does need that initial patch to get started.

The official Gothic account tweeted, “For us, the most important thing is that people can play on launch date and time. To achieve that, we sent out copies earlier. Gothic 1 Remake will need a download of around 5 GB on launch day and will then be fully playable offline – no permanent internet connection is needed.”

While you won’t have to stay online all the time to enjoy the Gothic remake, purchasing a physical copy means you’ll need to download a patch before diving in. This isn’t a dealbreaker for many players, but it raises concerns for those focused on video game preservation. It implies that launch copies will depend on an internet connection and access to the patch. Fast forward 20 years, and that patch might not be available on some platforms, leaving those physical copies as little more than coasters.

Gothic Remake is set to launch on June 5 for consoles and PC. Here’s hoping that future physical editions come with the necessary updates and fixes to ensure they can be played without needing a one-time internet connection.