As the world caught its first glimpse of the Assassin’s Creed Shadows trailer, gamers everywhere rejoiced. Finally, our wish for an Assassin’s Creed game set in Japan has been granted, albeit a bit belatedly. However, alongside the excitement came some disappointing news .Following the unveiling, VGC observed that the physical edition of Assassin’s Creed Shadows would require an internet connection for complete installation.
As someone familiar with developers’ tactics, I felt a mixture of shock and disappointment. Requiring an internet connection to access the content of a physical copy feels outdated to me, reminiscent of practices from 2007. As a proponent of video game preservation, I see Ubisoft’s decision as a step in the wrong direction. Why? Let’s delve into that.
Following the revelation, gamers worldwide expressed their frustration. Reddit threads filled with criticism of Ubisoft’s handling of intellectual properties, with some speculating that Shadows might become another microtransaction-laden title.
And honestly, I can’t blame them. I’ve always valued the sanctity of a single-player storyline, untouched by online elements. However, if accessing Assassin’s Creed Shadows almost necessitates an internet connection for installation, that alone raises concerns. It seems fitting, considering Ubisoft’s past marketing for the game.
Ubisoft’s Clarification Doesn’t Alleviate Concerns
In a somewhat mixed development, Ubisoft emerged from the shadows to address concerns. The company confirmed the necessity of an internet connection for game installation. However, once installed, players can disconnect and enjoy playing as Yasuke and Naoe offline. Despite this clarification, a significant issue remains—game preservation.
Essentially, players will have to download additional game files each time they wish to play or possibly undergo an online check for initial installation. Purchasing a physical copy should offer a plug-and-play experience, but Ubisoft’s insistence on internet connectivity feels like reaching a checkpoint in a game only to be halted from fighting the final boss because you missed battling a minion along the way.
Looking ahead, there’s a risk of being stranded without internet access, rendering it impossible to install Assassin’s Creed Shadows. This not only impacts gameplay but also hampers activities like trading physical copies, reselling, or spontaneous playthroughs.
A comprehensive list compiled by DoesItPlay highlights that around 75% of tested games don’t require online connectivity for installation and gameplay. Unfortunately, Assassin’s Creed Shadows doesn’t fall into this category.
Avoiding Ubisoft’s Mistakes: The Importance of Understanding History
While I could have accepted this significant yet seemingly minor requirement, there’s another aspect that concerns me deeply. Ubisoft’s track record with managing online infrastructure is less than stellar, to put it bluntly. This isn’t the first time the company has implemented such measures, and sadly, it won’t be the last.
The trend began with Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and will likely continue with Star Wars: Outlaws. Assassin’s Creed Shadows is just the latest addition to this list of victims. Unfortunately, Ubisoft’s questionable online practices extend to its other titles as well.
Take, for example, the case of Tom Clancy’s H.A.W.X 2, released in 2010. The game’s always-online requirement made it a struggle to even launch, let alone play. Even now, players encounter difficulties with its single-player mode.
Similar issues plagued the launch of Assassin’s Creed 2 on PC. An always-online requirement combined with a buggy release severely impacted the player experience. Ubisoft eventually addressed these issues, but the game remains dependent on the company’s client for single-player playthroughs, occasionally crashing in the process.
More recently, Ubisoft removed The Crew from all storefronts, even for players who had purchased the game. Rather than addressing the always-online requirement, Ubisoft chose to sunset the game entirely.
One possible rationale for enforcing this requirement could be the need for a day-one patch. However, this should have been an optional update. Many games receive such patches, yet unlike Assassin’s Creed Shadows, they allow for the installation of the unpatched version from a disc offline. The argument for online DRM also falls short, given the robust security measures in place on consoles.
This raises the question: why now? Why did Ubisoft adopt this trend with the current generation of consoles? These are queries only Ubisoft can answer, and one can only hope that the company knows what it’s doing.
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is scheduled for release on November 15 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, with pre-orders currently open. Despite these concerns, will you still be purchasing it? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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