Ubisoft changes online multiplayer support for 91 games – and there are a few surprises

A new two-stage development by Ubisoft has been undertaken, with the first stage shuttering access to online multiplayer support, coming to fruition in recent weeks. To some, seeing quite a few Ubisoft games lose online support is a matter of concern, especially as there are people out there still playing these games. And while it's easy to understand why a publisher must make commercially viable decisions – because hosting and maintaining servers isn't free – some believe it is disappointing nonetheless, albeit possibly only those who use online services will really feel it. People who collect brand new and factory-sealed games, or play the game in single player mode may not notice any difference at all, until Ubisoft is expected to enact the second stage of their plan -- to deprecate all of their older games from their online services platform -- in which case buying the physical game (preferably new) will be your saviour.

It all came to light on 22nd April 2022, when Ubisoft announced the end of online support for 91 games via a blog post. The company explained that all in-game news, updates, player statistics, and online multiplayer features would no longer feature in these titles. Also, any of the 91 games that use Ubisoft’s Connect platform can no longer earn its ”Units” points to unlock in-game rewards. Weirdly, Ubisoft explained that PC players will lose access to previously unlocked content, but console players will be able to keep it so long as they keep their old game save.

Thankfully, we've seen a resurgence in recent years to preserve video games via backward compatibility. And while Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo have all been guilty of abandoning the old for the new, there's arguably been a clear shift to do more to ensure that older titles can still be played and enjoyed by a new generation of players.

Microsoft, in particular, has led the way with its Xbox backward compatibility program, while Sony will soon offer access to its older titles via its new PS Plus subscription service. Nintendo has taken a similar route, granting Nintendo Switch Online subscribers access to hundreds of NES and SNES games, while those who subscribe to the Expansion Pack tier can play N64 and Sega Genesis (Megadrive) games.

While it is true that in an ideal world, no game would ever need to lose features, nor would gamers need specific hardware to enjoy them, it seems inevitable that more games may lose online functionality in the years to come, and more digital storefronts will likely close down. This bodes poorly for an industry that has seemingly made so much money for so long from the gamers it seems no longer to be supporting. 

But while the end is nigh for one form playing, there is there is light on the horizon, even if a publisher decrees the end of digital access online. Physical games are seeing a massive resurgence as it becomes more and more likely that publishers (not just Ubisoft) are pulling the plug mercilessly on some of the best titles ever made. And for those true collectors who want to avoid hoping for the best but expecting the worst on ebay, there is always the hope of garnering the holy grail: brand new Pre-Retail Stock (emergency stock, which has been held back and never released to retail stores) if it's still available.

So if you don't want to be left with the rug pulled from underneath of you, it may be a timely investment to stop procrastinating on that elusive collectable you've been thinking about for the past decade. 

I know I will. 

Ubisoft games which no longer have online support