Over the past few years the video games that hit the shelves have been slowly morphing from one shots with a couple of DLC packs to what is referred to as ‘live services’, games that are supported with map packs, new features, and patches for years after their release. Ubisoft have moved almost completely to this model with Ghost Recon Wildlands and For Honor being heavily supported, so it’s no surprise that the next Assassin’s Creed will follow a similar model.
CFO Alain Martinez explained further in an investors call:
So what we can say is clearly all our games now are bringing live operations, different type. As you said, the live operation of Ghost Recon, are different from the one of Rainbow Six and will be different from the one of Assassin’s Creed. But clearly, the philosophy of all the game that we make is to be able to justify and to bring live operations for a long life, as long as we think it fits for the game.
Assassin’s Creed has dabbled with multiplayer features in the past to some success so this may indicate the return of a multiplayer mode. Rumours are that the next game is set in Egypt, with Ubisoft teasing the reveal just a few days ago.
Source: Seeking Alpha
TheShepanator
I’m all for developers offering long-term support for a game, the stuff added to Uncharted 4’s multiplayer has been fantastic. I just hope they don’t use it as an excuse to release a sub-par base game.
camdaz
“sub-par base game” That’s my worry about supporting a game long term like this, think DriveClub & No Man’s Sky. Hopefully the game will be released in good shape.
Tuffcub
Well they’ve had an extra year so you would hope so.
TSBonyman
Launch woes aside, if AC fans get half the satisfaction i got from Driveclub and NMS they’ll be onto a good thing.
JR.
I can see them doing something similar to Watchdogs with Assassins invading other players games at random and co-op mission icons on the map.
I wouldn’t mind this approach but I hope they don’t move too far away from the traditional AC experience in their quest to please the deserters.
Millions of players continued to support these games long after it became popular to dismiss each new release as ‘more of the same’. And many gamers who hadn’t played an AC game since AC III decided the franchise was in desperate need of reboot.
gazzagb
Is anyone else worried that games are becoming more episodic? I much prefer having a game with everything in 1 go. Map packs and additional support is great, but it shouldn’t cost loads to access.
The Lone Steven
The day that full games are a rare thing and episodic content is the normal way to do things will be a very sad day.
I don’t mind the idea of episodic content as some games, it works. Others*(hitman kinda didn’t work because it’s essentially levels split over a year instead of being one complete package), it’s a way to artifically drag out the game.
tactical20
I’m not sure I understand the difference? You mention Ghost Recon, but that’s just had dlc add ons, same as anything else? Unless I’m missing something?
TheShepanator
Instead of shaving content off the finished game and selling it as DLC down the line, this time they’re actually making the DLC AFTER they have already finished the main game, and they expect you to thank them for it.
Tuffcub
And rather than support the game for months, they do it for years. DLC attracts more gamers as after six month the price drops on the game. Then they release they “complete” version on the year anniversary, get more money for old rope, then add more DLC for the new players. DLC is more profitable than a base game.
tactical20
But Ghost Recon and For Honor only came out a few months ago? You think there will be new DLC released for these games in 2018/19?! Surely Ubisoft will be working on new games by then?
Foxhound_Solid
AC2 was its peak. Would love something of that style from this dev team.
The Lone Steven
Yay! I do love missing part of a game because it is restricted to online only. Yay! Go ahead, Ubisoft. Make it online only. In fact, I dare you. Go on, do it. DO IT! DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO IT! DO IT YOU NEFARIOUS BUGGY COPY AND PASTE JOB FIENDS! DO IT!
Or i dislike live services that effect the main bulk of the game.
And isn’t For Honour dead nowadays? Along with MICROTRANSACTIONS being there because people don’t want to unlock everything thus they had to replace them with microtransactions.
I hate gaming practises like this.
CR8ZYH0RSE
Bring back online passes,kick us while we’re down and have done with it.