An upcoming free update to SimCity will implement the requested offline single-player mode.
In a new blog entry on the official SimCity website, Maxis general manager Patrick Buechner confirmed the offline mode shall be released “soon.”
“Yes, Offline is coming as a free download with Update 10 to all SimCity players.” Said Buechner “When we launch it, all of your previously downloaded content will be available to you anytime, anywhere, without the need for an internet connection.”
“In Update 10, you can still play solo in Regions on your own, or in Multiplayer with people from around the world. What’s new is the Single Player Mode, which allows you to play the game Offline by yourself!”
Maxis and EA were heavily criticised for SimCity requiring a permanent internet connection to play, with the games servers struggling under launch demand.