always-online
/ˈɔːlweɪz ˈɒnlaɪn/
CommonDescribes a game that permanently requires an active internet connection, even mid-session.
The phrasing emphasizes the unrelenting, unavoidable nature of the requirement. Carrying more frustration than 'online-only' alone.
Real-world examples4 examples
| # | Example | What it means | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | my internet went out for 5 minutes and the always-online drm kicked me out of my own single player save | A brief outage caused the speaker to lose access to their game despite playing solo. | reddit, 2023 |
| 02 | they announced always-online for a game with no multiplayer. instant no buy | The decision to require connectivity for a solo game made the speaker refuse to purchase. | x, 2024 |
| 03 | always-online is never about cheating prevention. it's always about control | Asserting that the real motive behind the requirement is DRM and monetization, not stated reasons. | reddit, 2024 |
| 04 | i game on a laptop when i travel. always-online games are dead to me | The requirement makes an entire category of games unusable for the speaker's lifestyle. | x, 2023 |
Use it when
- A game disconnects you or shuts down if your internet drops even briefly.
- Criticizing a game for enforcing a persistent connection requirement.
- Warning someone that a game will not work without stable internet.
Do not use it when
- A game simply has online features but can still be played offline.
- The game is an inherently online experience like an MMO.
Always-online vs online-only
always-online
Always-online stresses the continuous, constant nature of the connection check.
VS
online-only
Online-only is a broader descriptor for games that simply need the internet to function.
Origin and context
Became a flashpoint term following high-profile controversies over DRM systems that required persistent server connections for single-player games, most notably in the early 2010s.
- First seen
- early-2010s
- Confidence
- medium
Cite this page
Use this stable URL to reference the entry.
https://slang.fyi/always-onlineUpdated: 2026-08-29License: CC BY 4.0