Discussion UBISOFT is shutting down multiplayer for 15 ‘older’ games, & even access to some DLC content

[Deleted member 2731765]

Hi,

Before continuing, let me make this clear that this news annoucement is only relevant to those who play ONLINE/MP games, be it from any company/developer. (in this case UBISoft). I don't play MP or any kind of online game mode, so this doesn't concern me, but some of you might still be playing older PC games. I have always been a Single Player 'Lone Wolf' type of gamer, hehe.

Anyways, back on Topic. It appears that Ubisoft has announced it will be deactivating the servers of some of its older games on September 1, 2022.

The shutdowns mean that owners of multiple games will be unable to play multiplayer at all for multiple Assassin’s Creed titles, Far Cry 3, Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Driver San Francisco and Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands.

In addition, many PC titles will no longer be able to install or access DLC, and Ghost Recon Future Soldier’s single-player campaign will only work in offline mode, according to Ubisoft. The publisher claims that closing the online services for some older games “allows us to focus our resources on delivering great experiences for players who are playing newer or more popular titles.”

To reiterate, Ubisoft has confirmed it's shortly pulling the plug on a number of its games, including Anno 2070, Far Cry 3, Ghost Recon Future Soldier, and Assassin's Creed 2. Most of the games included on the list are getting on a bit, but three-year-old VR game Space Junkies is also getting pulled, and as its a "multiplayer-only title", you will be "unable to play the game going forward".

Whilst the singleplayer features for these games will mostly be unaffected, multiplayer modes or online features may be unavailable after 1st September, along with the ability to buy DLC. In some instances, such as Ghost Recon Future Soldier, you'll only be able to play the singleplayer campaign offline, and you won't be able to link - or unlock goodies - via your Ubisoft account.

Here's the full list, although in the case of Assassin's Creed 3 and Far Cry 3, only the original games are affected; your remaster copy should continue to work as usual:

• Anno 2070
• Assassin’s Creed 2
• Assassin’s Creed 3
• Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood
• Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD
• Assassin’s Creed Revelations
• Driver San Francisco
• Far Cry 3
• Ghost Recon Future Soldier
• Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands
• Rayman Legends
• Silent Hunter 5
• Space Junkies
• Splinter Cell: Blacklist
• ZombiU

As listed above, these games are losing the same functions along with the access to their downloadable content (DLC), including four Assassin's Creed titles and Far Cry 3. Ubisoft is removing the DLC and online functions of the Assassin's Creed Brotherhood, Assassin's Creed Liberation HD, Assassin's Creed 3, and Assassin's Creed Revelations.

The following titles, Ghost Recon Future Soldier, Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sand, and Rayman Legends, are also losing their DLC and online features starting this September.

Official press release statement.

https://www.ubisoft.com/en-gb/help/...g-of-online-services-september-2022/000102396

By the way, Ubisoft made a similar move in 2021, shutting down multiplayer functionality and online services for such games as Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Vegas, Rainbow Six Vegas 2, Rainbow Six Lockdown, Far Cry 2, and Splinter Cell Conviction.

 

[punkncat]

Yup, I read this earlier and have several of these titles. I don't play the multiplayer version for any of them, but it will be interesting to see what changes occur in relation to the DLC content.

 

[Deleted member 2731765]

Yeah, the DLC part is definitely interesting. Though, I'm not sure why UBI is disabling access to some of their downloadable content (DLC). I too don't care much about the online MP modes as well.

 

[Frag Maniac]

Yeah, the DLC part is definitely interesting. Though, I'm not sure why UBI is disabling access to some of their downloadable content (DLC). I too don't care much about the online MP modes as well.

Some developers, usually large dev/pub teams, have for some time made DLC accessible only with an active net connection whilst playing, in an attempt to prevent piracy and encourage more people to buy vs pirate their base games. I also wouldn't put it past Ubi to do this retroactively even with older titles.

 

[PsychoPsyops]

Good riddance. Their games are cheap and bad anyway. And the company is corrupt.

 

[Deleted member 2731765]

Ubisoft games used to be good in the early days, but these days the product quality is horrible, and there is lack of interest and enthusiasm in the studio as well. Most of the DEVs these days, including UBI, are least bothered about delivering a polished game.

They just want to recycle what's left of the game code. Games are not even properly tested before release, to iron out any performance and/or optimization issues. Check the early days of UBI.

All their older PC titles have been a hit, or at least worth playing IMO. FAR CRY 1/2, Assassin's creed 1 and 2, some of the early titles in the Splinter Cell franchise (chaos theory/conviction/double agent), Rainbow Six 3: Athena Sword, Lockdown, VEGAS 1/2 , Call of Juarez , some older Prince of Persia titles, and also Watch Dogs 1 (though this title still had optimization issues, and the game was downgraded).

 

[Deleted member 2731765]

Some slight update:

Ubisoft has cancelled four projects, including Splinter Cell VR and Ghost Recon Frontline.

Ubisoft has recently announced during their quarterly earnings report that four games had been canceled including Splinter Cell VR & Ghost Recon Frontline while Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora will be delayed until late 2023. Ubisoft's Red Storm studio and Meta had been jointly developing Splinter Cell VR before the game was canceled due to the "uncertain economic environment".

The free-to-play battle royale Ghost Recon Frontline title that was being made at Ubisoft Bucharest was also scrapped after a previous delay and significant fan backlash. The open-world Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora game has been delayed until FY2023 with indications that the launch could occur towards the end of the year.

Ubisoft Cancels Ghost Recon Frontline, Splinter Cell VR, Two Unannounced Games - Game Informer

Ubisoft has cancelled four projects, including Splinter Cell VR and Ghost Recon Frontline | KitGuru