Pretty much all of Ubisoft’s great big AAA games -whether single player or not – are adopting the open world approach. It’s probably a smart move on their part; the formula’s been a successful one for the company, if you look at games like Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, Watch Dogs and the upcoming The Division. Not a linear, story-driven game in sight. It’s not some sort of coincidence. According to Ubisoft, the linear game is going the way of the dodo.
Linear, story-driven games are going to suffer going forward, says Far Cry 4 director Alex Hutchinson – and one of the reasons is because of the proliferation of YouTubers and other video sharers.
“I’m really interested in emergent games and where that’s going with video sharing and Twitch,” he said, speaking with CVG’s Andy Robinson. “I think linear story games are really going to suffer in the modern marketplace.
“They’re already super high-quality, and we’re already seeing their audiences migrate to the big open world games. If I open my friends list and see everybody on the same mission, doing the same thing… I think that’s nowhere near as strong a sales pitch as opening your friends list and seeing 40 people doing completely different things.”
And I think he’s probably right. In this new video-sharing, YouTube generation, people want to share their emergent experiences. There’s little point in doing that in games that are essentially exactly the same experience for everyone. Beyond that, there’s the value aspect. Gamers feel like they’re getting more value out of large open world games that they spend countless hours in.
It all echoes similar sentiment from Ubisoft boss Yves Guillemot a few months ago.
“We think that gamers want more freedom,” Guillemot said. “They also want games that they can play for quite a while, because there are less games now. The open-world genre gives us the possibility to offer different gamers different types of experiences. We think they are better adapted to the diversity of gamers that are in the market at the moment.”
Guillemot went on to say that the open-world trend in games today is likely to continue. “It’s a trend for the industry; there will be more and more open-world games because gamers buy those games more than the others,” he said.
For the most part, I agree – but I certainly think there’s still place in this industry for linear, single player games with a compelling, well-told narrative. I do, however, believe we’ll be seeing fewer and fewer of them.
Last Updated: October 22, 2014
Captain JJ in the shadow
October 22, 2014 at 08:12
UbiArts made that Valiant Hearts. Very story-heavy and linear. Very awesome.
But that’s a side-scroller, so probably doesn’t really apply here.
That said, I enjoy my open-world games at LOT, but nothing beats a good story.
Admiral Chief 0
October 22, 2014 at 08:22
Indeed.
However I hate being told where I can go
ReaperOfSquirrels
October 22, 2014 at 08:30
I hate being told “No, you can’t go there YET, maybe later, but not now”.
If it’s open world, then make it OPEN, just make me die a little faster in the areas you want me to avoid for the time being.
Weanerdog
October 22, 2014 at 09:06
I’m too stupid to take dying as a sign I don’t belong here yet.
Admiral Chief 0
October 22, 2014 at 09:18
XD
Cadis Etrama Di Umar
October 22, 2014 at 08:24
Don’t quite agree, I do too belive we’ll be seeing more and more dynamic and open-ended games. Not a bad thing but I believe both can and will co-exist. TLOU anyone? There is a place for these type of games, and it will always have a place in the industry….
Also….Every week something else is doomed lol One minute its Nintendo, next its single-player games. Meh , flavor of the week
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 22, 2014 at 08:26
Open world games are a jack of all trades & master of none. While I like open world games, once I finish the main story line I tend to lose interest very quickly. That’s why I always delay doing that for as long as possible when playing Elder Scrolls games or whatever.
This whole “you tell your own story” line seems to be based on the stats that few people actually finish their games, thus not seeing a lot of the story anyway. For me an awesome story elevates a game so much, so I’ll be quite sad if AAA games are just becoming even more soulless, empty experiences than they already are; and designed for people with goldfish attention spans unable to comprehend playing someone else’s story from their POV.
Mossel
October 22, 2014 at 08:39
Agreed. Sometimes I don’t want to go explore and find new places. Sometimes I just want to run down a corridor and shoot things. Open world games requires plenty of effort and time put into it.
Captain JJ in the shadow
October 22, 2014 at 08:49
I tend to do everything else BEFORE doing the main story line. 😀
Admiral Chief 0
October 22, 2014 at 08:52
Lol, same here
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 22, 2014 at 09:27
Yes me too. When I played Skyrim I did all the guild quests, exploring, etc before I was half way through the main quest because I knew I’d lose interest if I finished that first – plus there’s the added benefit of getting the cool equipment when it’s actually useful & not just relegated to vanity items. Same thing happened every time I played Oblivion.
Skyblue
October 22, 2014 at 10:42
Well stated. I have the exact same philosophy and that’s why I’ve racked up this value from Skyrim (refresh)
Alien Emperor Trevor
October 22, 2014 at 10:46
Wow that’s some serious commitment hehe. I think I’m just over 100 hours with one play through, but haven’t really felt like playing it again. Still need to play the DLC sometime though.
Skyblue
October 22, 2014 at 10:51
I also purchased all the DLC when the prices dropped but have hardly touched them. In fact I probably have but haven’t noticed because it’s all so seemless. One of my favourite games obviously.
Ross Woofels Mason
October 22, 2014 at 08:27
I honestly don’t agree with this.
I’ve watched more people play multiple copies of a linear based game than I have open world games, open world games peoples play through’s tend to start becoming dull and monotonous after a point because there are only so many times someone can make a fetch quest enjoyable to watch. Seeing how different people react to different situations is half the fun.
E.g Watching Max play Hyrule warriors and Jesse Cox play hyrule warriors are completely different and each have their lol’s even if the games the same.
For me the problem why linear games will suffer is the current price point for what you get, Let’s just exclude JRPGS from the list for now. The average linear based game will give you anywhere between 5 – 15 hours of gameplay.
Compared to the average 40+ hours most people get out of an average open world game, when you are paying R800+ these days on a brand new video game people are going to want something they can get their moneys worth out of.
Forever throwing linear based games into side scrollers or low budget titles.
Personally which makes me meh, as I am not the worlds largest fan of open world games, but then i do love me some side scrollers.
OVG
October 22, 2014 at 09:00
Besides, Shadow of Mordor proved that you dont have to spend 30minutes traversing landscape to get to your objective. I hate all that driving in GTA.
Mordor got the balance between gameplay and open world perfect. With a little more love from the official Lord of The Rings legal controlled instruction estate Im sure the extra cannon of the sacred franchise would have loved a little extra lore. But we all know that the poor buggers were lucky to get away with what they they had excluding The Lord of The Rings in the title. I can see why we never get any new IPs in this day and age.
The best thing about my favourite game after 30 years of gaming, The Last of Us was a huge risk for a brand new IP and its not getting a sequel. ART baby.
Skyblue
October 22, 2014 at 10:44
I love too many games for many different reasons to just choose one. I did love The Last of Us as well and I still haven’t picked up Shadow of Mordor but it sounds like I really should now.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew
October 22, 2014 at 08:27
MMmm. I don’t know so much. On one hand I agree. We do want games that are longer lasting and have more freedom.
But I still dig my single player, story based games. It still has a place.
That being said I am ok with only 1 or 2 major linear based games in a year with the rest being large open world experiences. But I don’t think I could go without my story driven games. It would cause me to lose interest in gaming.
Rags
October 22, 2014 at 08:27
Open worlds can be more repetitive imo.
FoxOneZA
October 22, 2014 at 08:39
And open world game will push a more linear single-player campaign if you like it or not but an open-world game can make the environment you are in more realistic by adding smart NPC’s and real world like locations. It’s amazing how we went from GTA3/4 being the only open world game to Assassins Creed, Shadow of Mordor, NFS, Forza Horizon and that list is building on.
Ir0nseraph
October 22, 2014 at 08:39
Hell if had to believe each article that foresees the end of something , PC, consoles, and the end of the world would all have come to pass already.
If a game has great story I will play it,
OVG
October 22, 2014 at 08:45
60fps/1080p, 150hours logged, immersive atmosphere, new age interactive story telling that SHITS on the outdated concept called CINEMA, over 200 game of the year awards, best voice acting, best MO-CAP, best sound design, 4.5 years of production time
THE LAST OF US.
Ubisoft are still making excuses for quantity over quality being the foremost of their future work model. That started with the ground breaking WATCHDOGS.
You vote with your wallets and after watching Watchdogs smash all the records expect more of that.
geel slang
October 22, 2014 at 09:35
Maybe people just liked WATCH_DOGS? I also love Far Cry and Assasins Creed, both day one purchases from me. Ubisoft rocks. There I said it.
OVG
October 22, 2014 at 09:45
True that. We all know that the fussy game connoisseur only represents 1% of gamers yet we are the most vocal because we are never happy. Always striving for perfection. No different to the art or wine world and we understand and accept the fact that 90% of people who support the same hobby decide their purchases from the cover of the box. Hence the fact that producers are so afraid of having a female on the cover because games are for teen boys according to the financial backers.
Ryanza
October 22, 2014 at 08:47
Why is it that when people from Ubisoft speak, all I ever hear is fucking bullshit. Ubisoft has been focusing on open world games of late and their open world games are the high sellers.
The best games ever made are linear types of games. A bunch of your favourite games will be a linear type of game.
The open world type of games is owned by Rockstar. No1 has ever beaten a GTA game. Some might get close but it’s never good enough.
If you take good linear games and compare them to good open world games, you will find that there are so much more good linear games than open world games.
I don’t buy Ubisoft games anymore. Seems like Youtube is now the focus. Why is the focus never on those who wants to buy games, like No DRM. So fuck Ubisoft and Ubisoft open world games. Beyond Good and Evil. Seems like Ubisoft is just evil and stupid.
Anyway. The Witcher 3 is coming. An open world type game. I know after what I just said. But The Witcher 1 and The Witcher 2, linear games. So 2-1.
Can The Witcher 3 beat GTA in open world games. Can’t wait to find out. If Red Dead Redemption is anything to go by, just fucking around while riding on a horse in The Witcher 3 is going to be fun.
OVG
October 22, 2014 at 08:50
They have been very arrogant the last month. From saying 30fps/900p is the future of gaming and that the PS4 cannot handle 1080p, to saying that FARCRY looks lovely in 1080p on the PS4.
But we all know that Assassins creed will sell another 12million. So I suppose they must be doing something right.
Captain JJ in the shadow
October 22, 2014 at 08:53
Ubisoft likes using big words
OVG
October 22, 2014 at 09:04
Translate from French Canadian and you do end up with big words.
You should see the big words they use on the AGREE page for U-Play PC installation.
NickTheEagle
October 22, 2014 at 09:06
I prefer linear games 100%, multiplayer is nice for open world ;).
Dutch Matrix
October 22, 2014 at 09:28
Skyrim. The End.
RinceThis
October 22, 2014 at 10:04
Nah, linear will always have a place!
CAE9872
October 22, 2014 at 13:40
Hmmm have to disagree with Ubisoft on that – it is OK to like both you know!