The Witcher III PC Retail Version needs Internet to start the game?

[AvengerGrim]

Not that I care about this little piece of download honestly, but what about the collector's? Also, since the retail copy comes with a GOG code as well (I heard), you would end up with a GOG copy which is also DRM-free, right? So download the installer, put in on a USB stick, problem solved?

 

[azrael.1289]

I expect being able to use it as I please after legally acquiring the disc.

Who is stopping you? CDPR just needs you to download a small file(which you can keep) and then you can do what ou please. Only thing this ensures is that no one plays the game before 19th. The file will be put up on CDPR website and can be downloaded by anyone anytime. So, I fail to see how this is DRM.

 

[CostinRaz]

So, the game has DRM....

No it does not. What they did was remove files from the PC discs.

That sure as shit isn't the same as digital rights management.

 

[user2077]

The DRM comes in form of patches, updates, free dlc, locked behind a code. As I said, a piece of shit product.

 

[Lieste]

It won't solve the problem, because the problem is needing to kvetch about something, not the distribution choices made by CDPR and their manufacturing partners.
The game is DRM free - in addition to the disk version there is a DRM free GoG code. There is no issue.

 

[Lieste]

Why order both GoG and Disc? Then why cancel the disc order? The Physical version includes the GoG code... Utterly baffled here.

 

[GuyNwah]

Thanks to @Lieste for a concise and factual answer to the original question. Thread closed due to flaming after the original question has been asked and answered.