Ubisoft is OUT OF THEIR MIND! Gamers Shouldn't Own Games?!

Ubisoft is OUT OF THEIR MIND! Gamers Shouldn't Own Games?! Ubisoft Wants You To Be Comfortable Not Owning Your Games. With the pre-release of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown started, Ubisoft has chosen this week to rebrand its Ubisoft+ subscription services, and introduce a PC version of the “Classics” tier at a lower price. And a big part of this, says the publisher’s director of subscriptions, Philippe Tremblay, is getting players “comfortable” with not owning their games.

It’s hard to keep up with how often Ubisoft has rebranded its online portals for its games, with Uplay, Ubisoft Game Launcher, Ubisoft Connect, Uplay+, Uplay Passport, Ubisoft Club, and now Ubisoft+ Premium and Ubisoft+ Classics, all names used over the last decade or so. It’s also seemed faintly bewildering why there’s a demand for any of them, given Ubisoft released only five non-mobile games last year.

Hey there, gamers! Today, let's dive into a conversation about video game ownership, sparked by Ubisoft's recent statement. They suggest that we should get comfortable not owning our games, and it's making waves in the gaming community. But is this really a new idea, or are we just starting to notice it?

Shifting Landscapes: From Cartridges to Streaming Services

Remember the good old days of Nintendo cartridges and VHS tapes? Those were simpler times. Now, just like movies moved from VHS to DVDs to streaming, video games are also evolving. Companies are shifting towards streaming services, giving them more control and, let's be honest, more money. It's a significant change, and it's got some gamers feeling uneasy.

Phasing Out: The Decline of Physical Media

Take a look at places like Best Buy – they're slowly phasing out physical media. Even WWE announced no more DVDs or Blu-rays; it's all in the cloud now. But video games are a bit different, aren't they? Unlike movies, where I can still use a DVD or Blu-ray player, gaming seems to be heading into uncharted territory.

Download Dilemma: Do We Truly Own Our Games?

Here's the kicker – many games, even those on discs or cartridges, need downloads. You pop in your game, but wait, there's a download required. So, do we really own the game in the traditional sense, or is it more like having a key to access something stored on a server?

Online Dependency: The Risk of Server Shutdowns

Think about it – if a game relies on an online connection, do we genuinely own it? Servers can go down, and then what? You can't play your game. It happened with the Wii U and 3DS; their online features are gone. So, are we just at the mercy of these online servers?

Ubisoft's Statement: A Harsh Reality Check?

Ubisoft's recent statement might sound harsh, but is it entirely wrong? In a world where games are increasingly dependent on online connections, do we really own our games? The reality is sinking in, and it's making waves in the gaming community.

Embracing Emulation: A Form of Preservation

This is where emulation comes into play. While some use it for questionable reasons, it's also a form of preservation. Imagine a world where, in a decade, you can only play a game through emulation because the servers are gone. Would you change your stance on emulation then?

Future Uncertainty: The Path to an All-Digital Era

As we move towards a potential all-digital era without physical drives in gaming systems, the concept of game ownership is evolving. Ubisoft might have just vocalized what many of us have been silently pondering. Are we ready for this shift, or will it leave us feeling like we own nothing?