SimCity to get offline mode

Maxis is finally bringing an offline mode to SimCity, a feature that fans have been requesting every since the game’s disastrous launch in March 2013. At launch and months afterward, SimCity was plagued with server issues, which were overwhelmed by gamers. Maxis tried remedying the situation by disabling some features in the game but server issues persisted.

Now almost a year later, the company is almost ready to roll out an offline mode for SimCity. “Our priority is to make sure that it’s as polished as possible before we release it. So, until then… testing, testing and more testing,” writes Patrick Buechner, the General Manager of the Maxis Emeryville studio. The task of creating an offline mode was such a monumental task for Maxis that they couldn’t have finished it until now. Part of the reason this project took so long is because Maxis designed SimCity to use its own servers for processing, lowering the use of system resources on player computers.

SimCity’s offline mode will debut in an upcoming free update called “Update 10.” Maxis is hoping the SimCity community will begin developing mods for the game since the game can run locally and offline.

There’s no specific release date for Update 10 but the company promises to announce the date in a near future with a follow-up blog post.

Download SimCity: Mac | PC

Source: Electronic Arts

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