Time4Tea: Ok, let me clarify something here that might be causing confusion. It is not the
online part of 'always online' that is the issue. It's not use of the
internet that is the problem. It is not even the 'client-server' model, as opposed to peer-to-peer. The problem lies entirely with
who is in control of the server... The Blizzard-controlled (actual) case is DRMed, because Blizzard retain control of the game server and have a killswitch with which they can terminate the game for everyone, whenever they feel like it.
A very valid point which many here seem to have overlooked. You can have DRM-free multiplayer games that require a server, as long as they include the ability to set up your
own server. Doom/Quake was one of the first examples and the Persistent World (PW) servers of Neverwinter Nights 1 and 2 are another strong case. Now to access these, an Internet connection is still needed, but you could set up your own PW server and access it over a local area network (LAN)
without any need for online access (say, for a group of close friends enjoying a gaming weekend at someone's house).
Time4Tea: As I mentioned in my post above, I think an MMO
could be DRM-free in principle, if users had access to the server-side application and had the ability to set up and host their own server...But of course, no MMO that currently exists (that I know of) is implemented like that, because the devs want control over the game...
There is another point to consider here - the "massive" part of MMO means that rather than a server, you have to have a server
farm. You have to have multiple, high-capacity network lines with load balancing which requires high-end routers. And you have to have technical support capable of dealing with the worst that abusive players can throw at you (DDoS attacks, in-game cheating, gold farming, etc).
So even if an enlightened developer/publisher released a DRM-free MMO, almost nobody else would have the wherewithal to setup and maintain the server infrastructure needed to run it.
Getting back on point while this optional tool doesn't make Cyberpunk 2077 itself a DRMed game, it
is clearly DRM itself and the most likely reason for this is CDPR "testing the water", seeing how many people use it. If a high proportion of users do, then that will create a strong business case for ditching their DRM-free pledge.
So while it may not be of huge significance on its own, it is what it presages that people should be more concerned about.
(Come on you 'rep trolls, let's have another downvote orgy!).