{"id":978684,"date":"2026-05-22T23:16:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-22T23:16:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/978684\/"},"modified":"2026-05-22T23:16:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-22T23:16:17","slug":"the-most-important-thing-is-people-can-play-at-launch-gothic-ps5-remake-misses-the-mark-with-mandated-download","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/978684\/","title":{"rendered":"‘The Most Important Thing Is People Can Play at Launch’: Gothic PS5 Remake Misses the Mark with Mandated Download"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"'The<\/a> Image: Push Square<\/p>\n

Gothic 1 Remake<\/a> is the latest in a long line of PS5 physical releases to ship with a Game Key Disc<\/strong><\/a> \u2013 although maker Alkimia Interactive seems to have honourable intentions which have backfired.<\/p>\n

Earlier today, the X<\/a> (or Twitter<\/a>) account Does It Play<\/a> dramatically told its followers to \u201ccancel your pre-orders\u201d, after early physical copies of the old-school action RPG had started to make their way out into the wild.<\/p>\n

While the packaging apparently doesn\u2019t mention that a download is required, the game doesn\u2019t run fully until you install a day one update.<\/p>\n

For us the most important thing is that people can play on launch date and time. To achieve that we sent out copies earlier.<\/p>\n

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. https:\/\/t.co\/58sKC3xvTf<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Gothic Game (@gothicthegame) May 22, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In attempt to calm the situation, the dev explained:<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cFor 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 5GB on launch day and will then be fully playable offline \u2013 NO permanent Internet connection is needed.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

So the game plays offline just fine once you\u2019ve installed that initial patch, but some are concerned about the implications on preservation here.<\/p>\n

Writing on X, one person said<\/a>: \u201cAnd what happens if someone sticks the disk into their drive 10 years later? Will it then just fail to work? You gotta think about these things. DRM is harming your customers, and while I know you’re not alone, you’re not helping. It has to stop.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a fair point, and while I do sense the intentions were probably good here, it\u2019s clear the dev didn\u2019t really think things through.<\/p>\n

Actually, I think at this point, physical fans would probably prefer retail releases to get delayed \u2013 as long as they ship with the final, finished version of the game on the disc.<\/p>\n

Anyway, this is something to be aware of if you\u2019re planning to grab a boxed copy of Gothic 1 Remake \u2013 it is playable offline, but you\u2019ll need to install a patch first.<\/p>\n

[source x.com<\/a>]<\/p>\n

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Related Games<\/dt>\n
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See Also<\/dt>\n
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\"Sammy<\/p>\n

As the Editor of Push Square, Sammy has over 15 years of experience analysing the world of PlayStation, from PS3 through PS5 and everything in between. He\u2019s an expert on PS Studios and industry matters, as well as sports games and simulators. He also enjoys RPGs when he has the time to dedicate to them, and is a bit of a gacha whale.<\/p>\n