French video game giant Ubisoft has made the decision to retire the online services for ten of its older games, effective January 25, 2024. This move will impact various titles, including well-loved entries from the Assassin’s Creed series, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, Splinter Cell: Conviction, and more. While this decision may disappoint some players, it’s essential for Ubisoft as it grapples with outdated technology behind these older titles.
The Roster of Retired Games:
Here’s the complete list of games that will no longer have online services support in the coming year:
- Assassin’s Creed 2 – Xbox 360
- Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood – Mac
- Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD – PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
- Assassin’s Creed Revelations – PC
- Ghost Recon Future Soldier – PC
- Heroes of Might and Magic VI – PC
- NCSI – PC
- Splinter Cell: Conviction – Xbox 360
- R.U.S.E – PC
- Trials Evolution – PC
Ubisoft recognizes the significance of these games to their community but attributes the decision to the necessity of abandoning outdated technology. In a blog post, Ubisoft emphasized, “Decommissioning the online services for older games is something we do not take lightly, however, it is also a necessity as the technology behind these services becomes outdated.”
Impact on Game Features:
When the online services are terminated for these titles, players can expect a disruption in various game features, including multiplayer modes, Ubisoft account linking and syncing, Ubisoft Connect rewards, and leaderboards. However, Ubisoft reassures players that the offline modes of these games will remain accessible even after the shutdown.
A Strategy for the Future:
Ubisoft has a history of discontinuing online services for older games, a strategy that allows the company to reallocate resources to new or different games. In 2022, Ubisoft took similar action, announcing the discontinuation of multiplayer for 15 games, including five titles from the Assassin’s Creed franchise.
On a more positive note, Ubisoft recently launched the highly anticipated Assassin’s Creed Mirage. This thirteenth major installment in the series returns to the franchise’s roots, set in 9th-century Baghdad during the Islamic Golden Age. Players follow the story of Basim Ibn Ishq, a street thief introduced in Valhalla. The game combines stealth and parkour, offering a nostalgic experience for long-time Assassin’s Creed fans. Assassin’s Creed Mirage is available on PC and consoles and is soon to release exclusively for the iPhone 15 Pro.
