Ubisoft Misled Reviewers With Assassin's Creed: Unity

Yes, I am aware that there is an Assassin's Creed Unity sticky. However, unlike that thread, this topic is not actually about Assassin's Creed Unity's reviews, or performance, or even the game itself. This has to do with Ubisoft's policies, and how scummy they were with Unity.

Ready? Let's go.

The review copies of Assassin's Creed Unity that were sent out? They had no microtransactions. They were literally disabled from the game.

As it turns out, the microtransactions weren't available in the game because the servers hadn't gone live yet. So where did Ubisoft screw up here?

Well when your game has microtransactions, you usually make it a point to inform reviewers of the nature of microtransactions (what can be bought and for how much, usually) so that they can properly consider this in their products. As it turns out, Ubisoft neglected to make any mention of microtransaftion pricing to reviewers, so they had no idea how much things in the game could cost (which, in some instances, is more than the cost of the game itself). Ubisoft basically sent reviewers an experience of the game that was not representative of the product consumers would be using.

Proof?

At Giant Bomb. 15 minutes in. Plus, you can read the shitstorm brewing over on GAF.

Ubisoft, that is shittiness taken to an all new level.

oh ffs...

Ubisoft sinks to a new seedy low. At this point, the earths core is in danger.

INB4 "We didn't originally intend for microtransactions to be in the game. However, after our release, we quickly realized adding a Pay2Win element created a more cinematic experience, so we had to do it, as a fan service."

Well. It's official then.

The list of shittiest companies.

1. Ubisoft

2. Who ever you hate the most.

To be fair to Ubisoft, it's hard not to want to take advantage of people who are so stupid they buy the same AC game again and again and again.

To be fair to the stupid people who do that, Ubisoft as everyone knows are complete wankers.

I think I covered everything there.

They'll probably say that they weren't trying to mislead reviewers and just wanted to offer them the complete experience of the game or some crap like that.

Already covering their asses those dishonest reviewers.

Keep on digging ubisoft.

Lame. I'm returning my copy of Unity tomorrow and waiting to see a whole bunch of reviews of Rogue. Hoping Rogue turns out good.

How dare you Ubisoft. That should be EA doing this.

What does this mean specifically? Do consumers have to pay money to get the content that the reviewers have with their copies of the game? Or does this simply mean they turned off the DLC shop? Because if it's the latter, I don't really see what the big deal is, don't all newer AC games already have this and it's a given that it'd be in there?

Weird: Double post

I wish people wouldn't buy this game.

It just tells Ubisoft they can keep doing their scummy shit.

I wonder what their excuse will be. Having said that I have enjoyed the game thus far and I'm certainly not buying any microtransactions.

Huh? That link led me to a Fatal Frame Wii U trailer. On topic, Ubisoft won't be getting any of my money anytime soon though.

I don't know yet dogg I just started it and it seems pretty good

Please be good FC4 please please...otherwise I'm done with these folks. No wonder that hot chick left....she didn't like the road this company was taking.

When companies do well and make profits they start to lose what made them successful in the first place and greed overtakes all.

You're right, I mislinked. Proper link now in OP.

Just look at Microsoft and the whole parity debacle.

Just f*cking wow. Waiting for their pr to DC. Will be great

I mislinked (the GAF post I am getting it from had mislinked originally). It's all fixed now, sorry for the confusion.

@charizard1605: Found this on today's PlayStation Store update

Normally I don't condone *other* means of obtaining a game...but that's all I'm gonna say.

They must not like playing second fiddle to EA.

@ReadingRainbow4: Lol no....but MS did lose what made the 360 a success and so did Sony with the PS3 launch to a degree. The good news is MS saw the light and the X1 is back on track.

The only way these companies will learn is by our closed wallets

@mikhail: Am I reading that right, the add ons actually cost more than the season pass?

They actually cost more than the game itself?

LOL

@charizard1605: also Eurogamer did briefly mention in their review that the game featured microtransactions, but did not go into further detail.

But microtransactions make it a much more cinematic experience, didn't you know that guys?

Technically, Ubisoft unveiled microtransactions as a 'feature' for the game a while back. But from what I am understanding, they were inaccessible in the review copies, meaning reviewers had no way of knowing what these entailed or even how much they cost.

Which is amazingly shitty.

Because the items weren't up on the respective PSN and Xbox Live stores? In your OP you made it seem like they were deliberately removed by Ubisoft. The more reading I'm doing it just sounds as if the stores weren't online yet, which is normal for prerelease games.

Wish granted...

Also, TC, this thread delivers big-time. Thanks for the heads-up.

Any game that includes microtransactions usually also includes a price list provided to reviewers (even if the servers aren't up yet) so that they know what the microtransactions in the game entail. Ubisoft failed to provide reviewers this.

I will however update the OP myself (just got to the post in the GAF thread which clarifies this) to clarify that the misleading was done not in game, but simply by misrepresenting the nature of microtransactions to reviewers outside of it anyway.

Yeah that is really bad. I'm listening to the Bombcast now and not even Jeff Gerstmann was sure if they were real microtransactions or not, even though Brad was pretty positive that they were taking real money for them.

Gross. As if I needed another reason to dislike Ubisoft.

........*Sigh* What has this gaming industry come to? We need fresh blood out there. New guys who will give us the quality games without all the bullcrap.

If only Ubisoft didn't still have Rayman. Then I wouldn't have to pay them any attention.

Was on the fence kinda, but now I will pass on this game altogether. No doubt Far Cry will be the next let down.

Yeah but..Far Cry and Blood Dragon are really good games.

very shitty Ubisoft..glad Im not into Ass Creed.

Not only am I not getting the new Assassin's Creed, I'm not giving Ubisoft my hard earned money for Far Cry 4 or any of their other future releases until the gouging stops. I simply won't stand for this crap!

What angers me is their self awareness. They clearly know that micro-ts wont get received well but they milk the cow anyway.

Ubisoft is DISGUSTING! How can they release such an atrocious product to the fans and consumers that have supported them with their other mediocrity in the series (I hear Black Flag is good) For the love of God, don't buy this garbage people. Buy Dragon Age: I , or something else. And those micro transactions, ridiculousness, that's all. I hope Far Cry 4 is safe. All I care is their Rayman series as well and Ubi Art.

Horse armor $5 all over again

I'll take your word for it. But if Ubisoft did this with Assassin's Creed, they can do it for Fry Cry as well.

Wait, there's a 99$ microtransaction option?

This is the only time that I would approve of a cracked version to be released... with all the features unlocked.

I dunno. I'm just a sucker for Assassin's Creed games. I simply won't be supporting the microtransactions.

I bought Unity and I have 0 interest in buying any microtransactions.

@getyeryayasout: Pretty much. The state of modern AAA gaming is by and large deplorable. Another reason why my appreciation for companies like Blizzard, Atlus, and of course, Nintendo, continues to grow is because of how much they distance themselves from trends like these.