Ubisoft to phase out online passes starting with Assassin's Creed 4

Ubisoft will no longer use its UPlay Passport online pass for any future games and will allow Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag owners to download its online pass for free.

8

Ubisoft has announced they will phase out its online pass program, starting with Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag. The game's Uplay Passport will be free to download on Xbox Live and PlayStation Network, opening up the game's online features to everyone that plays the game.

Ubisoft said in a blog post that "the Uplay Passport program was initiated as a means of giving customers full access and support for online multiplayer and features, along with exclusive content, bonuses and rewards. However, games today are blurring the line between offline and online, between what is 'single player' and what is 'multiplayer.' Based on that and on the feedback we received from you, we recognized that Passport is no longer the best approach for ensuring that all our customers have the best possible experience with all facets of our games."

Online passes were previously offered for $9.99. Ubisoft adds that users that have already purchased AC4's online pass can contact customer service. No word on whether this announcement will affect previous games.

Senior Editor

Ozzie has been playing video games since picking up his first NES controller at age 5. He has been into games ever since, only briefly stepping away during his college years. But he was pulled back in after spending years in QA circles for both THQ and Activision, mostly spending time helping to push forward the Guitar Hero series at its peak. Ozzie has become a big fan of platformers, puzzle games, shooters, and RPGs, just to name a few genres, but he’s also a huge sucker for anything with a good, compelling narrative behind it. Because what are video games if you can't enjoy a good story with a fresh Cherry Coke?

From The Chatty
  • reply
    October 31, 2013 2:05 PM

    Ozzie Mejia posted a new article, Ubisoft to phase out online passes starting with Assassin's Creed 4.

    Ubisoft will no longer use its UPlay Passport online pass for any future games and will allow Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag owners to download its online pass for free.

    • reply
      October 31, 2013 2:12 PM

      Next step, eliminate UPlay.

      • reply
        October 31, 2013 2:25 PM

        Why? I honestly don't see an issue with it. It's much better than GFWL was.

        • reply
          October 31, 2013 2:31 PM

          As a console user, it's completely unnecessary for me.

          • reply
            October 31, 2013 2:32 PM

            So ... I guess I should have said:

            "Next step, eliminate UPlay from consoles."

            :)

            • reply
              October 31, 2013 4:36 PM

              it's actually kinda cool on consoles where you can unlock shit.

              • reply
                October 31, 2013 4:53 PM

                Like?

                I'm curious, since I always ignore it

        • reply
          October 31, 2013 2:35 PM

          Why not just rely on steamworks?

        • reply
          October 31, 2013 4:30 PM

          I'm not the type to hate on everything that isn't Steam, but as far as they go Uplay is pretty bad. It shits the bed every time a new game is launched or there's a big sale, it has some bizarre implementation when you buy Uplay games through Steam that means they don't get bound to my Uplay account, I get a separate version of Uplay which only works with that particular game.

          Saying all of that they could just make it better, rather than getting rid of it.

      • reply
        November 1, 2013 6:47 AM

        Yes. The only reason Uplay ever runs on my computer is because it launches from Steam when I launch FarCry 3. It really is a waste of software.

        Valve has GOT me. All of my friends and gaming acquaintances are on Steam and Steam has the social aspects cornered. I feel like Origin and Uplay are abandoned wastelands solely designed for launching software.

Hello, Meet Lola