CS: Source is not DRM Free (when launched through .exe)

[gamer_2655 0]

The article about Counter Strike Source on the PCGamingWiki clearly states that:

Quote

[the game is] DRM-free when launched directly from the executable with -game cstrike command line argument.

Unfortunately, when testing it on a PC without Steam installed, the game refuses to work. The error it displays is "CD key authentication invalid for internet servers". 

(To be exact, the game itself does load however an offline bot server is not able to be created, making the game useless).

Despite the various commands and tricks I used to try to get it running, the game would still not work. This includes things like setting sv_lan to 1 , running the game executable as administrator and also simply re-opening the game.

This inaccuracy has already been noted in another community article, however it has still not been fixed.

I hope that this is noticed and that the information on the CS:S article is fixed.

[Aemony 141]

Changed the article: https://www.pcgamingwiki.com/w/index.php?title=Counter-Strike%3A_Source&type=revision&diff=980594&oldid=966541

[gamer_2655 0]

Thanks!

[gamer_2655 0]

I only tested CS: Source, however this may also apply to other Source Engine games which state the same thing in the Availability section.

[SirYodaJedi 14]

It seems that games running on Source 2013 Multiplayer only work without Steam if maxplayers is set to 1. This does make actual multiplayer games useless, but should mean that singleplayer games using the MP branch, like the latest builds of Hunt Down the Freeman should, in theory, be playable without Steam.