Looks Like Assassin’s Creed Shadows Is Already Headed Toward Monetization Hell

The long-awaited “Assassin’s Creed in Japan” is finally here. When I saw the reveal trailer, I’ll admit I noticed some interesting stuff there, but no matter what, the thought that Ubisoft would massacre it never left my mind. There’s no way the current Ubisoft won’t do the most absurd of the stuff, and you know it. Unfortunately, my fears have indeed come true.

I’ll be honest, I thought Ubisoft would ruin Assassin’s Creed Shadows with hollow gameplay, a bland open world, and the same old formulaic design. But the corporation said, “I’ll do you one better.”

Here Comes Another “Internet Required To Install”

The ridiculous state of the Ubisoft of today is public knowledge at this point. It started with monotonous and formulaic games with the same old bloat plaguing the vast, empty worlds, and it ended with the company antagonizing every gamer out there by stating that they need to accept they can’t own their games anymore. And Ubisoft meant every word of it, just look at Star Wars Outlaws.

And Ubisoft needs to get comfortable with not getting my money anymore
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How would you make people not own the games they purchased? By making even the single-player ones “internet necessary”. If a game is tied to an internet requirement, it will be lost forever when Ubisoft pulls the plug on it. Regardless of if you want to play the offline mode only, the game will go away. Did you spend your hard-earned money on it? Ubisoft doesn’t care.

The disappearance of The Crew is a perfect example that Ubisoft won’t respect you; you shouldn’t either. Now, Ubisoft wants to get away with it once again. The new Assassin’s Creed Shadows might not be an always-online as previously thought, but the internet requirement still exists on the physical version. A necessary update is required to run it from the disc. This is done to ensure Ubisoft’s hold on even the physical version.

What Is With The Absurd Pricing?

You know what’s especially infuriating? Ubisoft states you can’t own your games and then has the nerve to ask an absurd amount for them. On top of that, add the ridiculous “three days early access with Ubisoft Plus,” an underhanded tactic to sell the subscription, as if you, the consumer are a gullible fool, and you get the full recipe of hatred.

Ubisoft did the same with Star Wars: Outlaws, and now the next tool for its money-making antics is Assassin’s Creed Shadows. The game will launch with multiple versions, the usual “Ultimate editions” and “Season Passes.” Why should you pay so much? It’s because Ubisoft “promises” to deliver more content to you down the line.

Bill is savage.
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That’s not all. From the description of the different versions, it looks like Assassin’s Creed Shadows will also have some content on launch locked behind an additional paywall. It’s a repeat of the Jabba The Hutt situation in Star Wars: Outlaws, and a stark reminder that Ubisoft doesn’t give two cents about the consumers’ wishes.

Possible Live-Service Elements

Here’s an icing on the “online-only” cake. There’s a good chance Assassin’s Creed Shadows will feature live-service elements like microtransactions, even more than its predecessors. Why’s that? Shadows is the first entry in Ubisoft’s major live-service hub incentive for the franchise called Assassin’s Creed Infinity. 

Insider Gaming: Assassin’s Creed Infinity’s Live Service Hub detailed
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The details for this particular project are not yet clear, but what we know is that Ubisoft will create an online hub from which all these games will be launched, similar to what Call of Duty did not too long ago. Couple that with alleged “mini battle passes” (whatever the hell that is), and garbage monetization in Shadows is inevitable.

I find baffling that Ubisoft has implemented terrible microtransactions into every single one of their AAA games.
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In case Assassin’s Creed Shadows turns out to be an RPG, which it will, you’re looking at stuff like ridiculous XP boosters and equipment packs at the very least. Do you wish to assassinate an opponent with Naoe? Too bad, your level is too low. But fear not, we have this nice XP bonus for you, just for $10. This is the future

Way To Ruin A Game Long Before Launch, Ubisoft

Looking at games like Assassin’s Creed Shadows, Star Wars Outlaws, and Ubisoft’s recent ridiculousness, I realize just how much the massive corporation has fallen from grace. I remember when the same company was responsible for absolute gems like Assassin’s Creed 2, Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, and Rayman. What happened to that Ubisoft? I guess the endless greed consumed it.

Peak Ubisoft in 2003-04. All these games were published by Ubisoft within one year of each other.
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Despite all this, I hope for the best every time a Ubisoft announcement or a new game comes out. And each time, the company outdoes itself and does the most messed-up thing possible. Telling users to accept not owning their games, polluting game worlds with the same bloat and monotonous garbage, and revoking people’s right to ownership by pulling the plug on games, it just never stops.

There’s so much I can take; even the name Ubisoft equals “bad” in my mind now.