Summary: Honestly I'm pretty sure this is a Steam issue, but their automated bug report system is exceedingly unhelpful. By all accounts the game is still fully functional online, but there's a listed Steam bug on startup, and if I try to play offline it just cycles a validation attempt endlessly.
Game Version: 20.2
Platform: PC
OS/Version: Windows
CPU Model: Intel i5 3570
System Memory: 32 GB
GPU Model and VRAM: nVidia 1866
Screen Resolution: 1366 x 768
Video Settings: Medium
Game mode: MP client I think?
Did you wipe old saves? Yes
Did you start a new game? Yes
Did you validate your files? Yes
Are you using any mods? No
EAC on or off? Off
Status: NEW
Bug Description:
Detailed steps to reproduce the bug:
1) Log in on specified device under Steam account A, verified ownership
2) Update game from 20.1 to 20.2
3) Log in on specified device under Steam account B, ownership verified on separate device using 20.1 pre-update no error
4) Log in on specified device under Steam account A, error at startup (still plays after exiting the error menu)
5) Log in Offline on specified device, attempt to play
Actual result:
Online startup, error as main menu opens, exit error menu, play (identical script to the red line from screenshot after successful Steam login)
Offline startup, retry/offline/exit option, offline chosen, endless connection and verification failure loop error (screenshot, cycles through"retry" endlessly)
Expected result: (what you expect to occur)
No Error on startup, offline capabilities