One of the biggest problems with digital and online-only games is their server dependence. So if a company decides a particular game is more effort than worth it, they pull the plug on all its online features. The same seems to be happening with 15 famous Ubisoft titles. The company announced that some of the biggest Ubisoft games, including some Assassin’s Creed titles, will lose all online functionality while others will cause players to lose access to all their DLC, and even entirely lose access to some, starting September.
The server shutdown will affect different games and consoles differently. For example, Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood drops all DLC access after September 1. But it will be available for those that play it on PS3 and Xbox 360. Unfortunately, most games will lose online access on PC and not as often on consoles.
Older Ubisoft games losing online functionality is understandable, as perpetually supporting games could get very expensive for any studio. And most of the games shutting down are indeed old enough to warrant cessation of online functionality.
Ubisoft Games Losing Online Functionality
- Anno 2070 – PC
- Assassin’s Creed 2 – PC/PS3
- Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood – PC/PS3/Xbox 360
- Assassin’s Creed Revelations – PS3/Xbox 360
- Assassin’s Creed 3 – PC/PS3/Wii U/Xbox 360
- Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD – PC
- Driver San Francisco – PC/PS3/Xbox 360
- Far Cry 3 – PC/PS3/Xbox 360
- Ghost Recon Future Soldier – PS3/Xbox 360
- Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands – PC
- Rayman Legends – PS3/Wii U/Xbox 360
- Silent Hunter 5 – PC
- Space Junkies – PC
- Splinter Cell: Blacklist – PC/PS3/Xbox 360
- ZombiU – Wii U
Other games will not have any problems since they are mainly offline experiences. Rayman Legends is one such example. Starting next month, the game will not allow linking of Ubisoft accounts with the game on PS3, Wii U, and Xbox 360 versions. Although this means players will lose access to online features, that shouldn’t really matter for Rayman Legends.
This is primarily why gamers prefer physical editions of games since no matter how much time passes, fans can always access their old favorites as long as they still own them. In other Ubisoft news, some information about the upcoming Assassin’s Creed has been leaked.