Ubisoft Connect

Last updated

Ubisoft Connect
Other namesUbisoft Game Launcher (2009-2012)
Uplay (2012-2020)
Developer(s) Massive Entertainment
Initial release17 November 2009;14 years ago (2009-11-17)
Platform Microsoft Windows, macOS, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox 360, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Wii U, Nintendo Switch, iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Facebook Platform
Predecessor Ubisoft Club
Type Content delivery
Digital rights management
Social networking
Website connect.ubisoft.com

Ubisoft Connect (formerly Ubisoft Game Launcher and later Uplay) is a digital distribution, digital rights management, multiplayer and communications service developed by Massive Entertainment to provide an experience similar to the achievements/trophies offered by various other game companies. The service is provided across various platforms. Ubisoft Connect is used exclusively by first-party Ubisoft Entertainment games, and although some third-party ones are sold through the Ubisoft store, they do not use the Ubisoft Connect platform.

Contents

Features

Ubisoft Connect serves as a combination of a free reward system (formerly Ubisoft Club) and online profile system for players of Ubisoft games. While playing Ubisoft games, players can complete in-game achievements which earn points towards their profile. They can then redeem these points for in-game content across many Ubisoft games, typically as cosmetic items which can otherwise be purchased through microtransactions. Players can also maintain friend lists which will be used in various games to help with matchmaking or tied with certain in-game features.

The Ubisoft Connect client on personal computers also serves as a storefront and digital download management tool. Players can purchase Ubisoft games through its storefront and manage downloads and updates of games. The client also maintains digital rights management (DRM) for Ubisoft games, and is required to be run for any Ubisoft game, even if the game is purchased on a different storefront such as through Steam or the Epic Games Store.

An optional subscription service, Ubisoft+ (formerly Uplay+), allows subscribers to have access to Ubisoft's full library of games as well as immediate access to its newest games and closed beta tests for upcoming games.

History

The former Uplay logo Uplay Logo.png
The former Uplay logo

The Uplay reward system was first introduced alongside the release of Assassin's Creed II on 17 November 2009. [1] The Uplay reward system allowed players to connect with other gamers, and to earn rewards based on achievements (called "Actions") in Uplay-enabled games, with Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot stating that "the more you play, the more free goods you will be able to have". [2] [3]

On personal computers, Ubisoft had offered its Ubisoft Game Launcher to manage the downloads and updating of its games. The Uplay client was introduced on 3 July 2012 to replace the launcher, incorporating its features as well as management of Uplay rewards and a digital storefront for Ubisoft games. [4]

Certain Ubisoft games required an online pass known as a "Uplay Passport" to access online and multiplayer content. In October 2013, Ubisoft announced that it would discontinue its use of online passes on future games, and made the Uplay Passport for Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag available at no charge effective immediately. [5]

Uplay+, a monthly subscription service giving the subscriber full access to over 100 games in the Ubisoft catalog including immediate access to new games and closed beta tests, was introduced during E3 2019. [6] Uplay+ launched on September 3, 2019 in beta form, with full expansion in early 2020. The service was offered both through the Uplay store, as will be an option for Stadia users. [7] [8] [9]

In October 2020, Uplay and the Ubisoft Club were merged into Ubisoft Connect, which would offer the same features but also enable current and future Ubisoft games to support cross-saves and cross-play between platforms, and support for cloud gaming platforms including Stadia and Amazon Luna. However, Ubisoft said that several of the older games in the UPlay library will not be transitioned to support Ubisoft Connect's features, and thus they unlocked all the Uplay rewards associated with these games for all users. [10] As part of Ubisoft's transition from Uplay to Ubisoft Connect, the Uplay+ service was rebranded as Ubisoft+ in October 2020, with its offering expanded to include the Amazon Luna cloud gaming platform. [11]

In July 2023, it was reported that Ubisoft had started to permanently delete accounts it deemed "inactive", including purchased games. The company said that this was incorrect and that only accounts without purchases were deleted to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation. [12] [13] [14]

Reception

Early reception of Uplay with reviewers and the public had been largely negative, primarily related to the use of DRM. Early games that incorporated Uplay required players to maintain a constant connection to the internet, and if the connection was lost during gameplay, the game would halt, sending users back to their last checkpoint or save depending on the specific game. [15] The scheme quickly came under fire after a denial-of-service attack on Ubisoft's DRM servers in early March 2010 rendered Silent Hunter 5 and Assassin's Creed II unplayable for several days. [16] The always-on requirement was quietly lifted for existing Uplay games towards the end of 2010, being changed to a single validation on game launch. [17] However, the always-on requirement made a return in 2011 with the releases of Driver: San Francisco [18] and From Dust , the latter having been explicitly stated by Ubisoft prior to release to only require a one-time online activation on install. [19] From Dust was later patched to remove the always-on requirement. [20] In September 2012 Ubisoft employees confirmed in an interview that no further Ubisoft games would be using the always-on requirement, instead opting for a one-time activation of the game on install. However The Crew , released in 2014, required the player to be always online in order to play. [21]

John Walker, writing for Rock, Paper, Shotgun , called it a "technical mess" and saying that "it desperately needs to just go away" in the wake of a server collapse around the release of Far Cry 3 that temporarily made the game unplayable. [22] Ars Technica's Kyle Orland says that "Uplay has not exactly endeared itself to the PC gaming community", describing a history of technical errors and problems related to its DRM. [23] Geoffrey Tim, writing for lazygamer.net, called it the "worst thing" about Ubisoft's "otherwise excellent" games, and particularly criticized it for running alongside Steam when Ubisoft games are purchased on that platform. [24] Patrick Klepek, writing for Giant Bomb, criticized the same point, saying that Ubisoft's desire to run its own distribution service offered no real benefit to consumers, and describing the tactics they used to try to get people to use it as irritating and unappealing. [25] Writing a comparison for GadgetReview in which he compared the three major distribution platforms—Uplay, Valve's Steam and Electronic Arts' Origin—Shawn Sanders criticized it for using large amounts of memory while offering fewer features than its competitors. [26] Summarizing popular opinion on the service, VG247's Brenna Hillier said that "Uplay is one of the less popular PC DRM systems, but all your fervent wishing that it would die has not been successful." [27] Joshua Wolens of PC Gamer said that "Have you ever launched a game from Steam, only to watch Origin or UPlay spark to life, and thought "Ah, yes, how pleased I am to see you"? Of course you haven't, unless you own EA or Ubisoft stock. These things don't exist to make games better, they exist to give business liches and C-suite types a little warm glow." [28]

Rootkit allegations

In July 2012 Tavis Ormandy, an Information Security Engineer at Google, claimed that "Uplay" DRM is a rootkit and poses a serious security risk. The software installs a browser plugin that provides access to the system. [29] [30] Ormandy has written proof-of-concept code for the exploit. The exploit is believed to have been fixed as of version 2.0.4, released on 30 July 2012. [31] [32] [33]

Ubisoft Club

The Ubisoft Club logo Ubisoft Club.svg
The Ubisoft Club logo

The Ubisoft Club (initially known as Uplay Club) was introduced in October 2015, which transitioned most of the reward system facets of Uplay to this program, as well as adding further ways for players to earn points towards rewards by playing Ubisoft games. [34]

In 2020, it merged into Ubisoft Connect. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ubisoft</span> French video game company

Ubisoft Entertainment SA is a French video game publisher headquartered in Saint-Mandé with development studios across the world. Its video game franchises include Assassin's Creed, Driver, Far Cry, Just Dance, Prince of Persia, Rabbids, Rayman, Tom Clancy's, and Watch Dogs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steam (service)</span> Video game digital distribution service

Steam is a video game digital distribution service and storefront managed by Valve. It was launched as a software client in September 2003 to provide game updates automatically for Valve's games and expanded to distributing third-party titles in late 2005. Steam offers various features, like game server matchmaking with Valve Anti-Cheat measures, social networking, and game streaming services. Steam client's functions include game update automation, cloud storage for game progress, and community features such as direct messaging, in-game overlay functions and a virtual collectable marketplace.

EA, also known as EA Desktop and formerly known as Origin, is a digital distribution platform for Microsoft Windows and macOS, developed by Electronic Arts for purchasing and playing video games. In October 2022, Origin for Windows was discontinued, directing players to the EA App, with the macOS version remaining as the primary method for users to download and play EA games on that platform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Digital rights management</span> Technology to control access to copyrighted works and prevent unauthorized copying

Digital rights management (DRM) is the management of legal access to digital content. Various tools or technological protection measures (TPM), such as access control technologies, can restrict the use of proprietary hardware and copyrighted works. DRM technologies govern the use, modification and distribution of copyrighted works and of systems that enforce these policies within devices. DRM technologies include licensing agreements and encryption.

GamersGate AB is a Sweden-based online video game store offering electronic strategy guides and games for Windows, macOS, and Linux via direct download. It is a competitor to online video game services such as Steam, GOG.com, and Direct2Drive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">GOG.com</span> Digital video game distribution platform

GOG.com is a digital distribution platform for video games and films. It is operated by GOG sp. z o.o., a wholly owned subsidiary of CD Projekt based in Warsaw, Poland. GOG.com delivers DRM-free video games through its digital platform for Microsoft Windows, macOS and Linux.

<i>Assassins Creed II</i> 2009 video game

Assassin's Creed II is a 2009 action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Montréal and published by Ubisoft. It is the second major installment in the Assassin's Creed series, and the sequel to 2007's Assassin's Creed. The game was first released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in November 2009, and was later made available on Microsoft Windows in March 2010 and OS X in October 2010.

<i>Silent Hunter 5: Battle of the Atlantic</i> 2010 submarine simulator

Silent Hunter 5: Battle of the Atlantic is a submarine simulator for Microsoft Windows developed by Ubisoft Bucharest and published by Ubisoft. It is the fifth and latest installment of the Silent Hunter franchise and the successor of Silent Hunter 4: Wolves of the Pacific. Like Silent Hunter II and Silent Hunter III, it places the player in command of a German U-boat during World War II, more specifically the Battle of the Atlantic.

<i>Assassins Creed: Brotherhood</i> 2010 video game

Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is a 2010 action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It is the third major installment in the Assassin's Creed series, and the second chapter in the "Ezio Trilogy", as a direct sequel to 2009's Assassin's Creed II. The game was first released on the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 in November and December 2010 and was later made available on Microsoft Windows in March and June 2011. A remastered version of Brotherhood, along with Assassins's Creed II and its sequel, Assassin's Creed: Revelations, was released as part of The Ezio Collection compilation for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on November 15, 2016, and for the Nintendo Switch on February 17, 2022.

In the video game industry, digital distribution is the process of delivering video game content as digital information, without the exchange or purchase of new physical media such as ROM cartridges, magnetic storage, optical discs and flash memory cards. This process has existed since the early 1980s, but it was only with network advancements in bandwidth capabilities in the early 2000s that digital distribution became more prominent as a method of selling games. Currently, the process is dominated by online distribution over broadband Internet.

<i>Anno 2070</i> 2011 video game

Anno 2070 is a city-building and economic simulation game, with real-time strategy elements. It is the 5th game of the Anno series. It was released on 17 November 2011, and was co-developed by the German studios Related Designs and Blue Byte, and published by Ubisoft. Anno 2070 required Uplay to operate as an always online DRM System, later removed for receiving severe criticism from players.

<i>Assassins Creed Revelations</i> 2011 video game

Assassin's Creed Revelations is a 2011 action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Montreal and published by Ubisoft. It is the fourth major installment of the Assassin's Creed series, and a direct sequel to 2010's Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, concluding the "Ezio Trilogy". The game was released on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Microsoft Windows in November and December 2011. A remastered version of Revelations, along with Assassin's Creed II and Brotherhood, was released as part of The Ezio Collection compilation for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on November 15, 2016, and for the Nintendo Switch on February 17, 2022.

Always-on DRM or always-online DRM is a form of DRM that requires a consumer to remain connected to a server, especially through an internet connection, to use a particular product. The practice is also referred to as persistent online authentication. The technique is meant to prevent copyright infringement of software. Like other DRM methods, always-on DRM has proven controversial, mainly because it has failed to stop pirates from illegally using the product, while causing severe inconvenience to people who bought the product legally due to the single point of failure it inherently introduces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Denuvo</span> Anti-tamper software

Denuvo Anti-Tamper is an anti-tamper and digital rights management (DRM) system developed by the Austrian company Denuvo Software Solutions GmbH. The company was formed from a management buyout of DigitalWorks, the developer of SecuROM, and began developing the software in 2014. It was introduced with FIFA 15 in September. In addition to Denuvo Anti-Tamper, Denuvo Software Solutions has developed the anti-cheat system Denuvo Anti-Cheat and Nintendo Switch Emulator Protection, which attempts to prevent Nintendo Switch games from being emulated. The company was acquired by Irdeto in January 2018.

A review bomb is an Internet phenomenon in which a large number of people or a few people with multiple accounts post negative user reviews online in an attempt to harm the sales or popularity of a product, a service, or a business. While a large number of negative reviews may simply be the result of a large number of customers independently criticizing something for poor quality, a review bomb may also be driven by a desire to draw attention to perceived political or cultural issues, perhaps especially if the vendor seems unresponsive or inaccessible to direct feedback. Review bombing also typically takes place over a short period of time and meant to disrupt established ratings that a product already has at review sites, sometimes backed by campaigns organized through online message boards. It may be used as a mass-movement-driven coercion tactic, as a form of protest, or may simply be a form of trolling. Review bombing is a similar practice to vote brigading.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Epic Games Store</span> Digital video game storefront

The Epic Games Store is a video game digital distribution service and storefront operated by Epic Games. It launched in December 2018 as a software client, for Microsoft Windows and macOS, and online storefront. The service provides friends list management, game matchmaking, and other features. Epic Games has further plans to expand the feature set of the storefront but it does not plan to add as many features as other digital distribution platforms, such as discussion boards or user reviews, instead using existing social media platforms to support these.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Google Stadia</span> Cloud gaming service

Stadia was a cloud gaming service developed and operated by Google. Known in development as Project Stream, the service debuted through a closed beta in October 2018, and publicly launched in November 2019. Stadia was accessible through Chromecast Ultra and Android TV devices, on personal computers via the Google Chrome web browser and other Chromium-based browsers, Chromebooks and tablets running ChromeOS, and the Stadia mobile app on supported Android devices. There was also an experimental mode with support for all Android devices that were capable of installing the Stadia mobile app. In December 2020, Google released an iOS browser-based progressive web application for Stadia, enabling gameplay in the Safari browser.

Ubisoft+ is a subscription-based video game service from Ubisoft offering access to download and play games from Ubisoft's library for a single monthly fee. Ubisoft+ offers subscribers unlimited access to a catalog of more than 100 games on Microsoft Windows PCs, including titles such as Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Watch Dogs: Legion and Immortals Fenyx Rising. Ubisoft+ also includes premium editions to games, classic titles and additional content packs. With a Ubisoft+ subscription, games can be downloaded and played on Windows computers using the free Ubisoft Connect game launcher.

References

  1. ↑ "Ubisoft Launches First Uplay Services With Assassin's Creed II". IGN. 18 November 2009. Archived from the original on 22 May 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  2. ↑ Good, Owen (14 November 2009). "Ubisoft: All Our Games Will Do This UPlay Thing". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 22 September 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2010.
  3. ↑ Faylor, Chris (19 November 2009). "Ubisoft Launches 'Uplay' Achievement and Reward System with Assassin's Creed 2". Shacknews . Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  4. ↑ Cox, Kate (16 August 2012). "Ubisoft Launches Their Own PC Gaming Client, and Is Selling Some Games For $1 to Get You To Try It". Kotaku . Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  5. ↑ "Ubisoft Kills Online Pass System, Effective Immediately". IGN. November 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  6. ↑ Ubisoft Announces Uplay+ Subscription Service for PC - E3 2019 - IGN, 10 June 2019, retrieved 29 August 2019
  7. ↑ Watts, Steve (13 June 2019). "E3 2019: Uplay+ Is Ubisoft Subscription, With New Releases Like Ghost Recon Breakpoint And Watch Dogs Legion". GameSpot . Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  8. ↑ Tarason, Dominic (16 July 2019). "Ubisoft announce their Uplay+ subscription lineup". Rock Paper Shotgun . Retrieved 16 July 2019.
  9. ↑ Boudreau, Ian (3 September 2019). "Uplay Plus launches today with access to more than 100 games". PC Gamer . Retrieved 3 September 2019.
  10. 1 2 McAloon, Alissa (21 October 2020). "Ubisoft Connect announced as a 'refreshed' replacement for Uplay and Ubisoft Club". Gamasutra . Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  11. ↑ Gartenberg, Chaim (27 October 2020). "UPlay Plus subscription service rebrands as Ubisoft Plus, expands to Stadia and Luna". The Verge . Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  12. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (22 July 2023). "Your Ubisoft account can be permanently deleted for 'inactivity,' but Ubisoft says that won't happen if there are purchases attached to it (Updated)". PC Gamer . Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  13. ↑ Blake, Vikki (23 July 2023). "Ubisoft is suspending "inactive accounts"". Eurogamer . Retrieved 24 July 2023.
  14. ↑ Valentine, Rebekah (24 July 2023). "Ubisoft Clarifies That It Won't Delete Game Libraries Due to Game Inactivity After Fan Panic". IGN . Retrieved 22 January 2024.
  15. ↑ Ben Kuchera (18 February 2010). "Official explanation of controversial Assassin's Creed 2 DRM". ARS Technica. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  16. ↑ "Ubisoft's New DRM System Falls Down, Locks Out Paying Customers". Kotaku. 8 March 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  17. ↑ "Constant net connection no longer required for Ubisoft games". PC Gamer. 31 December 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  18. ↑ "Ubisoft's Driver: SanFran Has Always-On DRM". Rock Paper Shotgun . 27 July 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  19. ↑ "From Dust DOES Need Online, Badly Ported". Rock Paper Shotgun . 18 August 2011. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  20. ↑ Ben Gilbert (9 September 2011). "PSA: From Dust patch now available on PC, removes Ubi DRM". Joystiq. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  21. ↑ "Interview: Ubisoft On DRM, Piracy And PC Games". Rock Paper Shotgun . 5 September 2012. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  22. ↑ John Walker (30 November 2012). "Far Cry 3 Servers Down Already: Ubi, This Is A Mess". Rock Paper Shotgun . Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  23. ↑ Kyle Orland (7 November 2014). "Ubisoft pulls upcoming holiday titles off Steam". Ars Technica. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  24. ↑ Geoffrey Tim (28 March 2014). "Watch Dogs on PC skipping uPlay?". lazygamer.net. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  25. ↑ Patrick Klepek (18 November 2014). "Ubisoft's Tactics Are Making uPlay Less Attractive Than Ever". Giant Bomb . Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  26. ↑ Shawn Sanders (6 November 2013). "Steam Vs. Origin Vs. Uplay (comparison)". gadgetreview.com. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  27. ↑ Brenna Hillier (2 July 2014). "Not even a lawsuit could kill Uplay". VG247. Retrieved 3 September 2015.
  28. ↑ Wolens, Joshua (13 December 2022). "2022 saw launcher bloat turn from a minor annoyance into a genuine problem". PC Gamer . Future plc . Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  29. ↑ Adrian Kingsley Hughes (30 September 2012). "Uplay is a rootkit". forbes.com. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  30. ↑ Alec Meer (30 July 2012). "Warning: Big Security Risk In Some Ubisoft PC Games". Rock Paper Shotgun . Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  31. ↑ F, Sean. "Ubisoft DRM Contains Rootkit, Update Available To Fix Vulnerability". digital-digest. Digital Digest.
  32. ↑ Thomas, Brewster (31 July 2012). "Ubisoft Patches Uplay Vulnerability". Silicon. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  33. ↑ "[Uplay PC] Patch 2.0.4 - Security fix". Ubisoft Forums. Ubisoft. Archived from the original on 10 April 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
  34. ↑ Chalk, Andy (19 October 2015). "The Ubisoft Club, Ubi's new online rewards program, opens its doors". PC Gamer . Retrieved 29 October 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.