SCPM: Homeworld: Deserts of Kharak started receiving new updates in August on Steam and is currently on v1.4.4 compared to v1.3.0 here BUT the latest Steam (and Epic) updates effectively caused the game to require an online connection, even to play single player content or to save changed settings.
Syphon72: Why do developers do this? What is the point of making even the SP online only??
You have to think from a developer/publisher side, not consumer here.
Namely, the reason's this: MONEY.
Anyways, here's the reasons:
1. It's so people don't pirate the game straight-up. They (dev's and publishers) want you to buy the game, if you don't own it yet. Harder to do this than say for modders to crack that than probably Denuvo, SafeDisc, etc; especially if any stuff's server-side on their end.
2. To try to stop Cheating, especially in a Multiplayer game. Any for single-player - well, they want you to earn Achievements fairly w/out cheating. Often, games disable Achievements if you use mods - like say Skyrim: Special.
3. Always-online DRM purposes for DLC's - to protect the DLC's, especially when new paid-$ DLC/expansion content drops. They want to make sure you "buy" the DLC's at high prices.
4. Any new content added to the game for free, that can also keep the game's value the same or increase it. Same reason as #2 - they wanna make sure you buy the game.
5. Telemetry purposes - this can make it easier on their end to bug-test and bug-fix on their end if they log everything w/ telemetry; and/or so they can harvest data.
6. MTX's purposes - so that players always have access to the online store (even if the players don't want it) to try them to basically buy boosters of XP, level boosters, in-game equipment, loot boxes, etc., cheat codes, and/or other any other Pay-2-Win mechanics.
7. Online gaming purposes - so you always have access to have other players join your game easier, since you're already connected to their servers.
8. And/or any other stuff of the annoying modern gaming "treat games as rentals" or "annoy the customer" sort.