The Crew Motorfest And 2 Get Offline Modes And Huge Discount

Ubisoft pleases fans by announcing offline modes for The Crew 2 and Motorfest after original game shutdown, offers limited-time $1 deal on The Crew 2.

Ubisoft announced that The Crew 2 and The Crew Motorfest will soon receive offline modes, marking a significant U-turn in the company’s approach (take note, KT Racing!) The decision comes after the controversy surrounding the shutdown of the original “The Crew”, which left fans unable to play the game they’d purchased.

We heard your concerns about access to The Crew games

Today, we want to express our commitment to the future of The Crew 2 and The Crew Motorfest.

We can confirm an offline mode to ensure long term access to both titles, stay tuned for more news in the next months. pic.twitter.com/KDlz8h09OT

— The Crew Motorfest (@TheCrewGame) September 10, 2024

In another surprising move, they coupled the announcement with a huge discount on The Crew 2. For a limited time, players can snag the game for just $1 on PC (Steam), $0.99 on PlayStation, and $1 on Xbox – an insane 98% discount and a perfect opportunity to get a fresh drifting fix.

A Slide In The Right Direction

Ubisoft’s decision to add offline modes to the games is a big deal, and it (hopefully) might change how online-only games are created and rolled out in the future.

Hopefully, the decision will encourage other game companies to follow suit. After all, everyone naturally wants to be able to enjoy the games they’ve purchased indefinitely. Sure, it might not get support or updates, but revoking the right to play something you’ve paid for is far from desirable.

Thankfully, the move takes us back to the good old days of gaming with discs and cartridges, when players didn’t have to worry about their favorite titles being snatched away at a moment’s notice. It’s crazy that we even need to worry about that after parting with our hard-earned cash in the first place!

A Lesson (Or Two) Learned From Recent Events

We can’t help but feel that Ubisoft made this decision based on the fallout from removing the O.G. game, combined with what can only be described as a disastrous recent launch of Test Drive Unlimited: Solar Crown.

Severe server issues plagued the game’s early access period, leaving many players unable to play the game, which they’d paid extra to enjoy early access. Some stumped up the best part of $300 for the Collectors Box and early access!

The issues weren’t fixed in minutes, either, as they’d initially hoped – they eventually went on for days.

The fiasco is another reminder of why “always-online” requirements kill modern gaming. It’s absurd that players still can’t enjoy a primarily single-player game without a constant internet connection, especially when you know that the original beta game ran fine offline.

Hopefully, Solar Crown’s terrible launch will be the wake-up call the industry needs, prompting developers and publishers to reconsider whether always-online features are truly necessary.

Why Isn’t Everyone Doing This?

Ubisoft’s decision is becoming increasingly rare in the industry. By reducing server load, Ubisoft could potentially reduce their server costs while keeping fans engaged and guaranteeing them indefinite access to their purchased games.

Despite these benefits, many publishers still hesitate to implement offline options, often due to concerns about piracy, DRM effectiveness, and the push for “games as a service” models.

While the move might prompt other companies to reconsider their stance, don’t expect it to happen overnight.

Will “The Crew” Return With Offline Mode?

After the announcement, fans of the original once again asked whether the O.G. game would make a comeback.

Sadly, Ubisoft has no plans to restore The Crew, making it the perfect opportunity to pick up The Crew 2 with the current 98% discount.

However, it’s not all bad news for fans of the first installment…

Modders Are Reviving The Original

Following the shutdown of “The Crew” earlier this year, a group of dedicated modders has taken on the challenge of reviving the original game. Their project, codenamed “The Crew Unlimited” or “The Crew Revival”, aims to make the game playable again both online and offline.

A team of five modders began working on the project right after Ubisoft announced the server shutdown in December 2023. Rather than removing the online requirement, they’re creating a server emulator that tricks the game into thinking it’s connected online, and it seems the team has already made significant progress.

Currently, parts of the game are playable – the prologue can be completed, and the entire map can be explored in free roam. When released, a custom launcher will allow fans to choose between playing offline or online.

The team is carefully navigating potential pitfalls to avoid legal issues by not providing game files or advice on obtaining them illegally. The goal is to have the project ready before The Crew’s 10th anniversary in December 2024.

While modded versions won’t suit everyone, seeing the community come together to do their best to preserve the game they love despite Ubisoft’s lack of interest is fantastic.

Is The Crew Series Good For Drifting?

The Crew series has evolved its approach to drifting across its titles, with mixed reception from the community. While The Crew 2 offered a decent sideways experience, Motorfest (arguably) significantly improved the mechanics with a later update.

It’ll come as no surprise that compared to dedicated simulator drifting games like Assetto Corsa, The Crew’s drifting feels more arcade-like. AC is renowned for its realistic sim physics and precise control, offering a more authentic drifting experience that many enthusiasts prefer. However, it comes with a steeper learning curve.

On the other hand, Forza Horizon 5, like The Crew series, strikes a balance between realism and fun. Its drifting mechanics are generally considered simpler to get the hang of than The Crew 2’s, but perhaps not everyone feels they’re as refined as Motorfest’s latest improvements.

Both The Crew games require some tweaking of settings for optimal drifting performance. We recommend turning off traction control and stability management and experimenting with drift assist settings. In contrast, Assetto Corsa’s depends on driver skill and car setup, while Forza Horizon 5 offers a more pick-up-and-play experience with the option for deeper customization.

Many feel that the series still falls short of the realism offered by Assetto Corsa or the polished arcade feel of Forza Horizon 5. However, the drifting is a welcome and enjoyable addition to a great game.

For just $1, we recommend that drift fans try The Crew 2 and consider whether it’s worth investing in Motorfest. At least you can now be reassured that they (hopefully) won’t magically disappear one day!

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