After a rash of negative feedback over Ubisoft’s move to require a persistent online connection for the PC version Driver: San Francisco, the company has since backpedaled on that controversial decision.

Now, according to a Ubi rep over on the company’s Driver forums, all users will be able to authenticate once at launch – after which, the game can be played offline. So, although it still requires an internet connection initally, this is a much more tolerable requirement.

“We’ve heard your feedback regarding the permanent internet connection requirement for Driver and have made the decision to no longer include it. So this means that Driver PC gamers will only need to sign in at game launch but can subsequently choose to play the game offline,” said the rep.

Ubi said last month  that the DRM has been successful in fending off pirates, in attempting to justify its use of the always-online requirement.

Driver: San Fran is due out September 27 on PC, three weeks after the console debut.

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