Users are reporting that the Steam version of Sonic Mania needs an internet connection in order to boot. Those trying to access the game while offline are prompted to connect by a pop up box – though once the game's open, a connection is no longer needed.


Still, this is a pain in the backside, and shouldn't be necessary for a ye olde styled 16 bit platformer with no essential online components. Meanwhile, users are similarly miffed that the game uses Denuvo DRM software, despite the Steam listing previously making no mention of it.
"Like you, we've noticed an error in the Steam store not mentioning the DRM for Sonic Mania," an official post on the game's Steam page reads. "We're fixing that now."

The statement also reads: "Sonic Mania is intended to be played offline and we're investigating reports on that." Though it's a fairly vague sentence, that probably means that the company will nix the online requirement sooner rather than later.


And it better, because even Sonic's social media and PR guy doesn't seem too impressed. Responding to users on Twitter, Aaron Webber encouraged people to "make your voices heard", a revolutionary plea if ever I heard one.

Whatever the case, assuming these problems are fixed up it's reportedly a very good Sonic installment, which is as nice as it is surprising.