Highlights Players who fail to log in to their Ubisoft account risk losing their account and any games purchased, potentially upsetting future customers. Ubisoft received backlash on Twitter for its controversial account closure policy. GAMERANT VIDEO OF THE DAY Scroll to continue with the content
In response to concerns over a threateningly worded email, Ubisoft has clarified that players who regularly fail to log in to their Ubisoft account are at risk of losing their account and any games they have purchased. For gamers who have been thinking about buying some of the eight games Ubisoft has planned for next year, this bold anti-consumer move could potentially make them reconsider their decision.
The publisher of iconic franchises like Assassin’s Creed and Far Cry, Ubisoft has earned a mixed reputation among gamers over the years. While Ubisoft rarely releases titles that are considered complete failures, the playstyle by the numbers in many of its releases has fallen out of favor with many gamers. This player fatigue is particularly pronounced when it comes to the publisher’s open-world titles, as many players cite Ubisoft’s frequent reliance on a formulaic gameplay loop of tower-climbing and checkpoint-clearing. In response to these criticisms, upcoming Ubisoft games like Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the second game, appear to be removing or toning down some of these features.
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In a reply to an AntiDRM Twitter account post, Ubisoft Support has clarified that users who do not log into their account may lose access to purchased Ubisoft games. AntiDRM’s first post included a snippet of an email from Ubisoft to a user, informing them that their account was temporarily suspended due to inactivity, and warning that it would be permanently closed in 30 days. In response to the ominous email, the Ubisoft Support Twitter account stated, “There is no way we want you to lose access to your games or your account,” noting that account closure could be avoided by logging into the account again.
Unsurprisingly, Twitter users weren’t happy with Ubisoft’s response. Several replies pointed out that if Ubisoft didn’t want customers to lose access to their purchases, then they shouldn’t have a system in place to allow it. Another answer pointed out that the publisher’s policies are actually illegal in some countries, including Ubisoft’s home country of France. Other replies saw the unusual account policy as a deliberate move to get players to subscribe to the publisher’s Ubisoft+ subscription service. One reply said: “I bet you keep all of these accounts if they have an active Ubisoft+ subscription.”
After the mostly negative reaction to Ubisoft’s ill-considered policies, it will be interesting to see if the publisher makes any changes in the future. Currently, however, the publishing giant appears to be completely at odds with many gamers buying its products amid Ubisoft’s questionable DRM policies and acceptance of blockchain-based games, despite opposition from many gamers.
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