Ubisoft Turns Assassin's Creed into an Indistinct Service: Where Has the Quality Gone?

In recent news from Ubisoft, what seems to confirm the worst fears of Assassin's Creed aficionados has come to light. The Assassin's Creed Infinity platform promises to become the "main hub" for future releases such as Assassin's Creed Red, Assassin's Creed Hexe, and Assassin's Creed Invictus. However, behind this innovation lies something more than a mere novelty. This marks a shift from rich, complete narratives to an endless abyss of service games focused not on storyline and atmosphere but on monetization through seasonal passes and DLC.

According to information published by Insider Gaming, Ubisoft plans to use Infinity as a platform for selling daily and weekly cosmetic items via a system called "The Exchange." The "Synchronization" system will offer players mini-battle passes, underscoring a departure from deep narrative engagement to superficial content consumption.

Such changes are causing justified discontent among fans. Assassin's Creed has always been valued for its historical accuracy, captivating plots, and attention to detail. The move towards a "games as a service" model threatens to transform unique historical epics into mundane and monotonous content, where the main goal is not to tell a story but to continuously extract money from players.

These alterations provoke legitimate dissatisfaction among enthusiasts. Assassin's Creed was always appreciated for its historical authenticity, gripping narratives, and meticulous attention to details. Transitioning to a "games-as-a-service" model heralds the transformation of unique historical sagas into repetitive, mundane content, where the primary aim isn't storytelling but rather to incessantly milk consumers.

The plans to expand the universe through service games might lead to the devaluation of the main games of the series, turning them into nothing more than gateways for an endless stream of paid content. Such a strategy not only erodes the trust and respect of fans but also undermines the very essence of Assassin's Creed as a series dedicated to exploring and immersing in various epochs and cultures.

Ubisoft seems to forget that the success and popularity of Assassin's Creed were not built on endless microtransactions but on rich and engaging stories that transported players to different worlds and times. The pursuit of increased profits at the expense of quality and uniqueness of the product is a troubling signal for the entire industry.