Ubisoft, the giant publisher known for big franchises like Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry, faces a backlash following a recent policy clarification regarding account activity. In an alarming revelation, the company announced that inactive Ubisoft accounts risk permanent closure, resulting in players potentially losing access to all games purchased on the platform. This controversial stance may cause serious repercussions for Ubisoft, especially among prospective buyers interested in the publisher’s upcoming line-up of eight new releases.
Ubisoft, although a household name in the gaming industry, has often drawn criticism from players over the repetitiveness of its gameplay mechanics. Most notably, its predictable gameplay formula—climbing towers and clearing checkpoints in open-world games—has exhausted many of its fans’ patience. In response to these grievances, Ubisoft seems to be adjusting the formula in its upcoming titles, such as Assassin’s Creed Mirage, by scaling down these criticized elements.
The contentious policy regarding inactive accounts was confirmed by Ubisoft Support in response to an AntiDRM Twitter post. The user from AntiDRM had shared an email notification from Ubisoft, warning about a temporary suspension due to account inactivity, with the threat of a permanent closure in 30 days. Ubisoft Support responded, stating they “certainly do not want you to lose access to your games or account,” further clarifying that this could be prevented by simply logging into the account.
Ubisoft’s statement sparked a considerable outcry on Twitter. Users pointed out the irony of Ubisoft’s claim to prioritize customers’ access to their games while simultaneously implementing a policy that could take this access away. Some highlighted that such a policy might be deemed illegal in several jurisdictions, including France, Ubisoft’s headquarters. Others perceived this unusual policy as an attempt to push gamers towards Ubisoft’s subscription service, Ubisoft+. One user responded with, “I bet y’all leave these accounts going if they have an active Ubisoft+ subscription.”
Ubisoft’s unsettling policy has created a wave of dissent among its customers. As the company continues to experiment with divisive DRM practices and controversial blockchain-based games, it seems to be losing sync with its audience’s expectations. It remains to be seen whether Ubisoft will make adjustments in response to the backlash, but for now, it appears the gaming behemoth is steering off-course.
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