It’s extremely common for a game to ship with an online social feature nowadays, as has been the case with games like Destiny and DriveClub. Assassin’s Creed: Unity has its own social features as well, allowing players to seamlessly hop in and out of four-player co-op. It’s this multiplayer component, and not the bugs, that forced the after-release embargo according to Ubisoft.
“Having the online elements available and having populated worlds is essential to creating a representative and complete experience for reviewers. Achieving this prior to launch is incredibly complex, which is why some games are being reviewed much closer – or as was the case with Destiny, even after – the game launches.”
Sure, not being able to connect with other players online puts a damper on the experience, but I’m not buying the idea that it’s too incredibly complex to replicate before launch. Case in point, Sunset Overdrive. Another single-player focused title with an online co-op component that still managed to have reviews out on time.
How? By setting up multiplayer sessions with developers and other journalists around the world during the week before, ensuring that you’d at least be able to get some multiplayer time in. As simple as setting up a time schedule. And if we could find a way to get it working here with our comparatively small journalist community, then I’m sure it’s not such a major issue.
Despite the excuses, Ubisoft acknowledged that what they did might have been a little underhanded. They’re planning to review their internal review policies to hopefully never have this happen again, although I’m a little skeptical.
“We are working to adapt our services and communications with consumers accordingly, both by changing the way we work with reviewers and by offering customers open betas or other early access to some games, all so that they have the information they need and want.”
Whether that means they’ll never try to embargo a game until after release again is uncertain, especially since it’s common practice for titles that publishers don’t have the utmost faith in. Another reason to stay your credit card in times of pre-order temptation.
Last Updated: November 14, 2014
HairyEwok
November 14, 2014 at 10:02
And the blame game starts….. sigh ubi just admit you gone fucked up the game.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 14, 2014 at 10:17
If you read their statements like they’re horribly drunk, it makes a lot more sense.
They’re like the drunk guy at the bar hitting on a woman who wants nothing to do with him, and it’s all her fault because he’s awesome.
HairyEwok
November 14, 2014 at 10:20
I think Ubisoft and our government would be such amazing friends honestly hahaha XD
Hammersteyn
November 14, 2014 at 10:20
rofl, perfect logic
Cadis Etrama Di Umar
November 14, 2014 at 10:04
Riiiiiight……
http://www.reactiongifs.com/r/ll.gif
Hammersteyn
November 14, 2014 at 10:06
Ubisofts PR department
http://img-9gag-ftw.9cache.com/photo/ax23yOD_460sa_v1.gif
Viking Of Divinity
November 14, 2014 at 10:07
What do late review have to do with the game running like ASS on all systems. btw. Their Q&A must be high on f**** glue all day.
It took the community 48 hours to figure out a decent fix for the shitty framerate. You just need to play Offline. http://www.gamepur.com/news/16952-working-fix-assassins-creed-unity-fps-issues-ps4-and-pc-discovered-put-your.html
Ubi pls. go home your drunk.
Reid
November 14, 2014 at 10:08
“Whether that means they’ll never try to embargo a game until after release again is uncertain, especially since it’s common practice for titles that publishers don’t have the utmost faith in”
That should be highlighted in bold for each game that it applies to before you buy it. “Ubisoft: Yeah you can buy this game, but if it was our money we wouldn’t waste it.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 14, 2014 at 10:13
Honestly, who do they think they’re fooling?
“Hey journalizmz! We at Ubisoft think you’re incapable of reviewing our game properly because what really should be a SP game has a bit of co-op & MP, so you’re only allowed to do it after it’s released when lots of people are playing it because there aren’t any bugs… What? Lots of people who bought it already wouldn’t have if there’d been a review before release that mentioned completely non-existent bugs? What a lucky coincidence! But just in case you don’t buy that line, we’ll make a vague generic statement to make it sound like this was an experiment & we won’t try anything sneaky, honest, but we won’t do it again, maybe.”
HairyEwok
November 14, 2014 at 10:16
They should get the vaseline ready, the corporates are waiting to hear how wonderfully their money is being wasted away.
Skyblue
November 14, 2014 at 11:14
Amen.
Fuck Ubisoft
November 14, 2014 at 10:17
The gaming business model now a days is to create a game for day 1 sales. They don’t create games to be good and stand the test of time. It’s all about day 1 sales. Capitalizing on day 1 sales. Marketing, paid for media, embargoes, season passes, DLC, micro transactions, is all about day 1 sales. They can now ship buggy, broken, incomplete games and patch it day 1 of release. Most of the time those day 1 patches is not enough.
Ass Creed Unity is buggy as hell. Ubisoft new the game was not ready to have been shipped but they did it anyway to capitalize on end of year sales. The embargo was set till 24 hours after the game was released because they new the game was filled with bugs. And they can’t have reviews interfering with day 1 sales.
This game developing model is why DRM is so heavily pushed by the gaming industry. Day 1 sales where you can’t sell the game after buying it. Which then gives them time to fix / complete the game after you bought it.
I don’t buy Ubisoft games because fuck Ubisoft.
Spaffy
November 14, 2014 at 10:27
Ryanza is that you 😀
RinceThis
November 14, 2014 at 10:30
lol
Skyblue
November 14, 2014 at 11:15
Upvote for the username alone.
Hammersteyn
November 14, 2014 at 10:22
When do we start seeing sales figures for this gem?
RinceThis
November 14, 2014 at 10:23
When Ubisoft have finished making them up…
CAE9872
November 14, 2014 at 11:37
LOL
Skyblue
November 14, 2014 at 11:41
HAHA!
RinceThis
November 14, 2014 at 10:22
Too little, too late. another 1 point down in share prices for you! Bad Ubi! BAD!
Admiral Chief Wang
November 14, 2014 at 10:26
I can hear how it goes down the drain all the way from SnorToria. OOBI share prices are going the Zim route
XD
RinceThis
November 14, 2014 at 10:27
Yeah, they’ll be carting wheelbarrows full of the game to pay off their debt XD
RinceThis
November 14, 2014 at 10:25
“It’s like taking candy from a baby” says the Ubisoft PR department… http://www.gifbin.com/bin/102010/1287430113_monkey-snatches-snack-from-kid.gif
Brady miaau
November 14, 2014 at 10:30
Hi. Perhaps a pronoun or two might make for slightly easier reading. Just a thought.
Quo Vadis?
November 14, 2014 at 10:34
Holy hell, all this blame shifting….. Is Ubisoft located in and run by Luthuli house/ government?
Guild
November 14, 2014 at 10:36
Right, totally someone else’s fault for the low scoring late reviews of a bug infested game.
Xcalibersa
November 14, 2014 at 10:48
Where is the LG review?
Admiral Chief Wang
November 14, 2014 at 10:56
I think there was one earlier this week?
Admiral Chief Wang
November 14, 2014 at 11:11
Soz, that was for Rogue….stupid long week
Xcalibersa
November 14, 2014 at 11:27
So are LG waiting for the Ubisoft advert money to arrive before releasing review?
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
November 14, 2014 at 12:09
We got Rogue and Unity at the same time (late!) and decided to focus on Rogue first. We’ll have our Unity review out early next week, after testing the co-op and finishing the game.
OVG
November 14, 2014 at 10:59
fcuk off Ubisoft.
UltimateNinjaPandaDudeGuy
November 14, 2014 at 11:23
You’re shit, your game is shit and you should feel bad about what you are doing to your customers who have been loyal for YEARS! I will not be buying the game or any other Ubi game for a while.
CAE9872
November 14, 2014 at 11:35
My understanding reading “Push Square” article (I think) was that Ubisoft embargoed the review until half a day AFTER release. Bunch of …. (insert whatever derogatory comment you want).
Sir Rants A Lot is a DADDY
November 14, 2014 at 12:08
Ubisoft are going to need to do a lot of back peddling now. Ubisoft, you stuffed up. End of story.
The embargo was there not because of multiplayer crap but because YOU KNEW YOUR GAME WAS BROKEN AND YOU COULDN’T RISK LOSING YOUR PRE-ORDERS AND DAY1 PURCHASES WITH THE INFO GETTING OUT!!!!!
You’ve damaged your image almost beyond repair. I dare wonder how many FC4 pre-orders have already been cancelled and how many day 1 adopters are going to wait for FC4 to be released before purchasing just so they can be sure the game isn’t broken?
Honestly. If AC:U is so broken and so full of CRAPPY CRAPPY paywalls (Yes it’s a effing paywall Ubi, it’s grind for years or pay. That’s Candy Crush level paywalling) why would FC4 not be?
There was no mention of just how integrated and needed the AC:U Microtransactions would be. AC is a major franchise and you destroyed it. You will do it with FC4 as well.
Enjoy the bed you made Ubi. 2 years and Ubi will have to close its doors unless drastic changes are made