Developer Confirms The Crew 2 Getting Offline Mode by End of 2025

Ubisoft has announced plans to introduce offline modes for The Crew 2 and The Crew Motorfest, with The Crew 2's offline features expected to launch before the end of 2025.

According to producer Grégory Corgié, The Crew 2 will receive what he calls a "hybrid" mode that will allow players to enjoy the game without an internet connection. Testing for this feature will begin on April 30, with selected PC players receiving invitations to try the offline experience.

"We are pleased to confirm that we are aiming to deploy a new hybrid way to play the game before the end of 2025 for all The Crew 2 players," Corgié stated in a recent announcement.

The decision to develop offline modes follows significant backlash from players after Ubisoft shut down servers for the original The Crew game last year. That shutdown not only made the game unplayable but also resulted in its complete removal from digital stores and user libraries. This controversial move prompted a class-action lawsuit from frustrated players.

In response to the lawsuit, Ubisoft claimed that players were merely "buying a license of use" rather than owning the games outright. This stance further fueled the ongoing debate about digital game ownership and preservation.

The development of offline modes for The Crew 2 and Motorfest represents a significant technical challenge for the developer Ivory Tower. As Corgié explained, "The Crew 2 has originally been developed to be played online, thus we will need to adapt the experience." He noted that while some features will be maintained in the offline version, certain multiplayer functions won't be available without an internet connection.

While The Crew 2's offline mode is targeted for release before the end of 2025, The Crew Motorfest's offline features will take longer to implement. Ivory Tower is currently focused on supporting Motorfest's live service aspects, according to their announcement.

The testing process for The Crew 2's offline mode will follow a familiar pattern for longtime players of the franchise. "As we have done for years with The Crew 2 and more recently with The Crew Motorfest including the Insider program and numerous community tests such as User Tests and TTS, everything will be first tested by our players," Corgié explained.

The initial test on April 30 will select participants based on their system configurations and previous involvement with the community. These testers will receive email invitations to download a special version of the game that includes a dedicated save file, allowing them to share feedback without affecting their actual game progression.

While the first test will be limited to PC players, the offline modes will eventually be available on all platforms where the games are currently playable, including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

Last September, Ubisoft initially promised to add offline modes to both The Crew 2 and The Crew Motorfest but went quiet on the subject until this recent update. Community reactions on social media have been mixed, with some players still questioning why the original The Crew isn't being included in these offline mode plans.