A CD Projekt subsidiary is removing negative reviews for Hitman, which requires a persistent internet connection

Hitman (2016), chronicling the adventures of Agent 47, has been released on the GOG store. Some were disappointed that it requires “being online”, and that the game’s description is misleading. Negative reviews have started being removed

Some had been waiting a long time for Hitman (2016) to arrive on the GOG store, and it finally happened. Unfortunately, the initial promise that “[the game will be] DRM-free, requiring neither activation nor an online connection” was not kept.

Buyers quickly discovered that the game actually requires a persistent internet connection. Naturally, they vented their frustration in negative reviews. The product description on the GOG store page was promptly updated to include the “online requirement”.

However, even then the description was not entirely accurate. They noted the need for an internet connection to play “Escalations”, hunt “Elusive Targets”, and access user-created contracts, while stating that being online was not required for story and bonus missions. 

However, they “forgot” that unlocking new equipment and starting locations, receiving mission ratings (including the series' iconic “Silent Assassin”), leveling up location mastery (completing location challenges awards experience, and with each level players unlock new weapons, tools, etc.), as well as several other game features, also require a network connection.

The GOG team called the legitimate discontent of people who paid for the game “review bombing” (bombarding with negative reviews) and began removing reviews.

On Reddit, users point out that Hitman (2016) received an average score of 1.4 / 5, making it the lowest on the GOG store.

GOG Ltd is a subsidiary of CD Projekt, located in Warsaw, Poland.