S.T.A.L.K.E.R 2 Might Require Permanent Internet Access to Play

It looks like S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 players might have to say goodbye to the days of “sharing” spotty Internet with the neighbors. Kotaku Australiareported yesterday that “permanent Internet access is required” for the game to run.

However, a statement made earlier today via Twitter indicates that always-online DRM is only an option for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2, not a certainty. “We’re still looking for a method that is acceptable for both GSC and the community!” reads the Tweet.

The decision apparently comes from the company’s continuing problem with piracy. Sergey Grigorovich, S.T.A.L.K.E.R.’s Studio Director, admitted that “we try to fight it, but within reason.”

Should they decide to include the DRM scheme in their game, the studio would incorporate it into the game’s content. Essential information “will be located on the server and downloaded as the game progresses…Text information, code and quests will be loaded through that connection.”

S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 is expected to release sometime in 2012.