The Ubisoft Dilema

[CriticalGaming]

I think you guys all know that I really like to review games, or at least give first impressions of games on this forum. I always hope that in some small way I can help you all buy games you enjoy and avoid the ones you might not like. And reset assured I will be doing that for many more releases in the coming weeks.

However I have a problem when it comes to Ubisoft games this year. As you know Watch Dogs Legion and AC:Vikings are both right around the corner. Hell Watch Dogs is tonight actually. Both of these games were games I had intended to "cover" at the beginning of the year.

But Ubisoft has been revealed to be a gross company. I wont go into all the allegations and such here, but I'm sure you are either aware or can find it with a simple google search. Either way, I don't really want to support Ubisoft. Though I'm torn on this because it isn't the developer's fault that corporate is a bunch of shitheads, and the developers have probably been sticking through the misery to make the best games they can make and it always feels like a slight against them when you dont support their hard efforts despite the company around them.

Watch Dogs Legion is no big miss for me honestly because the first two games didn't really knock my socks off and I doubt this one will be any different.

Assassin's Creed however, well Odyssey is the first AC game i even bothered to play through all the way because of how the exploration and gameplay hooked me. So I honestly really really wanted to see what they did with Vikings. How that combat would feel, how cool the world exploration and such would be.

Both games are going to be microtransaction tat though.

I dunno I'm on the fence. I want to, but I also don't.

What do you guys think?

 

[deleted20220709]

DELETED

 

[Samtemdo8]

I just want Ubisoft to make a fucking Rainbow Six game that plays like the first 3, with mission planning and commanding AI squads in sprawling levels.

And a new Splinter Cell that plays like the first 3 or 4 games.

And a new Far Cry that goes back to Africa like Far Cry 2 with Wild Life and what not. And bring back weapon degradation, healing animations, and the map.

And give Prince of Persia some love.

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

I think you guys all know that I really like to review games, or at least give first impressions of games on this forum. I always hope that in some small way I can help you all buy games you enjoy and avoid the ones you might not like. And reset assured I will be doing that for many more releases in the coming weeks.

However I have a problem when it comes to Ubisoft games this year. As you know Watch Dogs Legion and AC:Vikings are both right around the corner. Hell Watch Dogs is tonight actually. Both of these games were games I had intended to "cover" at the beginning of the year.

But Ubisoft has been revealed to be a gross company. I wont go into all the allegations and such here, but I'm sure you are either aware or can find it with a simple google search. Either way, I don't really want to support Ubisoft. Though I'm torn on this because it isn't the developer's fault that corporate is a bunch of shitheads, and the developers have probably been sticking through the misery to make the best games they can make and it always feels like a slight against them when you dont support their hard efforts despite the company around them.

Watch Dogs Legion is no big miss for me honestly because the first two games didn't really knock my socks off and I doubt this one will be any different.

Assassin's Creed however, well Odyssey is the first AC game i even bothered to play through all the way because of how the exploration and gameplay hooked me. So I honestly really really wanted to see what they did with Vikings. How that combat would feel, how cool the world exploration and such would be.

Both games are going to be microtransaction tat though.

I dunno I'm on the fence. I want to, but I also don't.

What do you guys think?

With how huge and bloated Ubisoft games are, they will almost certainly be cutting into time you could be spending with better games that will also be out very soon. Up to you if you think you’ll have the time?

 

[BrawlMan]

I heard WD: Legions is good so far, from people I trust. I still have no interests and stopped buying Ubisoft games after the Rayman Legends fiasco. I am defintely not buying anything else from them after the racism and sexism allegations. They knew what they did at the top or those in power that deliberately chose to ignore it. Buy these games if you wish, but from what I've seen WD2 is still the best game in the franchise, and I've already played the best AssCreed game ever made. Or at least, buy them used or pirate them if they have horrible DRM.

 

[CriticalGaming]

I heard WD: Legions is good so far, from people I trust. I still have no interests and stopped buying Ubisoft games after the Rayman Legends fiasco. I am defintely not buying anything else from them after the racism and sexism allegations. They knew what they did at the top or those in power that deliberately chose to ignore it. Buy these games if you wish, but from what I've seen WD2 is still the best game in the franchise, and I've already played the best AssCreed game ever made. Or at least, buy them used or pirate them if they have horrible DRM.

I never concidered being a naughty little pirate. hmm...........Naw i support developers.......probably.

 

[BrawlMan]

I never concidered being a naughty little pirate. hmm...........Naw i support developers.......probably.

Like I said, only if they have horrible DRM and you're playing on PC. If not, your choice on how you get the game. No skin off my bones. I got other games I am way more interested in.

 

[Crystal Violet]

I think that small-time reviewers will not make so big a difference by boycotting their games but we gamers should put pressure on the major players to boycott them. Reviewers like IGN have the most influence.

 

[stroopwafel]

By the same token rare earth metals like coltan is mined in the Congo under questionable circumstances so with a strict moral standard you should own no modern electronic devices of any kind in the first place. In any kind of production pipeline from food to manufacture you will find way worse shit than what happened at Ubisoft which only stands out because of the Zeitgeist. A consumer boycot only helps if it's uniformly consistent which ofcourse it isn't. Negative press obviously has an effect but ofcourse it's highly unlikely apologies are sincere.

When you're buying a videogame the proceeds aren't used to fund some war in a third world country or to pay for the weapons of child soldiers. I wouldn't really worry about it. Just buy the games you like.

 

[Chimpzy]

By all means, if Ubisoft's general shittiness bothers you, put them on your shit list. It'd be hard to blame you, they do plenty to deserve it. As do pretty much every major player in this industry it seems. What's that saying again? There is no such thing as ethical consumption under capitalism? Maybe so, maybe not, but there sure as hell isn't in AAA gaming.

They've been on my shit list for over half a decade, and what with things have been lately, they're not coming off it anytime. Don't worry tho, they've got lots of company. And it's not like it resulted in a lack of things to play. In a way, having a sizeable chunk of AAA off limits probably led to me enjoying a more diverse universe of games.

 

[Houseman]

The choice is simple. You're better off without Ubisoft. Reject it. Purge it from your life. Say no. Boycott the company, as I did after I got fed up with their repetitive games.

 

[XsjadoBlayde]

Pre-owned market all the way.

Unless you PC only.

Then, shit...I dunno. Become one with console peasant uprising? For we are many?

...Legion?

?

Circular Reference!

 

[BrawlMan]

Pre-owned market all the way.

Unless you PC only.

Then, shit...I dunno. Become one with console peasant uprising? For we are many?

...Legion?

?

Circular Reference!

 

[Catfood220]

I wasn't buying either to be fair, so your reviews were unlikely to sway me either way. I got bored of the Ubisoft formula years ago, everything I've seen of Ass Creed looks boring as Hell and I just don't like the Watch Dogs games.

I think that small-time reviewers will not make so big a difference by boycotting their games but we gamers should put pressure on the major players to boycott them. Reviewers like IGN have the most influence.

WTF!?! New person. Quick, shut the door, don't let them escape!!! Sadly, I doubt we gamers have the sort of clout needed to get them to boycott these companies. The amount of money they receive from advertisements alone speaks louder than we can. Plus they run the risk of being blacklisted by the company in question which would also hurt them too.

 

[Crystal Violet]

WTF!?! New person. Quick, shut the door, don't let them escape!!!

I was here for a short time before V2 so unless it has gotten so much worse I don't think I will be scared away lol

Sadly, I doubt we gamers have the sort of clout needed to get them to boycott these companies. The amount of money they receive from advertisements alone speaks louder than we can. Plus they run the risk of being blacklisted by the company in question which would also hurt them too.

Good point. I would hope that people would just stop following IGN as they are compromised but I don't expect that to happen soon.

 

[SilentPony]

I think Ubisoft is a garbage company that makes the occasional fun game. But here's the thing; there is no such thing as a moral company. They're not here to be nice places, they're here to make money.
Coke frequently employees hitmen to kill Union leaders in South America.
GM and Ford sold tires to the Nazis even during the US involvement in WW2
Almost every clothing and electronics brand uses slave labor in Asia.
The less said about Volkswagen and where those gas trucks came from the better.
And God help you never look into the movie or music industry.
CD Pro Red, EA, THQNordic, Blizzard, Activision, Ubisoft, they're all terrible and treat employees like disposable scum. They always have and always will.
And who knows what's going on behind closed doors at Steam and Epic.

You can draw a line in the sand Picard style and say "This far, no further." and that is a good and proper thing to do, and its respectable. But it does ring hollow if you don't do it for other companies too.

 

[CriticalGaming]

I was here for a short time before V2 so unless it has gotten so much worse I don't think I will be scared away lol



Good point. I would hope that people would just stop following IGN as they are compromised but I don't expect that to happen soon.

One of the reason i like to do reviews here is that you all can trust that i am coming from strictly personal opinion with no influence from anything. Youtubers can be bought, ign and gamespot are obviously screwed, and honestly even yahtzee on the escapist can be a little skewed.

Let me be clear i am fairly certain yahtzee is not influenced by companies. But i do think he can oversell the negatives because that's the nature of his videos. An image trap so to speak.

Finding good reviewers is getting harder and harder these days.

 

[DJShaddycat]

I think Ubisoft is a garbage company that makes the occasional fun game. But here's the thing; there is no such thing as a moral company. They're not here to be nice places, they're here to make money.
Coke frequently employees hitmen to kill Union leaders in South America.
GM and Ford sold tires to the Nazis even during the US involvement in WW2
Almost every clothing and electronics brand uses slave labor in Asia.
The less said about Volkswagen and where those gas trucks came from the better.
And God help you never look into the movie or music industry.
CD Pro Red, EA, THQNordic, Blizzard, Activision, Ubisoft, they're all terrible and treat employees like disposable scum. They always have and always will.
And who knows what's going on behind closed doors at Steam and Epic.

You can draw a line in the sand Picard style and say "This far, no further." and that is a good and proper thing to do, and its respectable. But it does ring hollow if you don't do it for other companies too.

It might ring hollow, but I think there's only so much a consumer can do and keep track of before it becomes too much for them. If you read that companies X Y and Z did shitty things with their money and power, and you want to boycott them? More power to you, and you shouldn't be expected to *also* boycott companies A B and C because they too did horrible things. Would it make more sense if you did? Of course. But I would never expect anyone to keep a physical list of companies to boycott because of their terrible practices. As long as their making the small steps they feel they should towards boycotting some companies with terrible practices, I think that's all you can ask for.

Same way if you want to go vegan, but can't give up burgers, or bacon. Don't. Just give up everything you feel comfortable ditching while keeping the meat you love. That's what I do.

 

[SilentPony]

It might ring hollow, but I think there's only so much a consumer can do and keep track of before it becomes too much for them. If you read that companies X Y and Z did shitty things with their money and power, and you want to boycott them? More power to you, and you shouldn't be expected to *also* boycott companies A B and C because they too did horrible things. Would it make more sense if you did? Of course. But I would never expect anyone to keep a physical list of companies to boycott because of their terrible practices. As long as their making the small steps they feel they should towards boycotting some companies with terrible practices, I think that's all you can ask for.

Same way if you want to go vegan, but can't give up burgers, or bacon. Don't. Just give up everything you feel comfortable ditching while keeping the meat you love. That's what I do.

Absolutely you should pick and choose what you're comfortable with. But I do think in fairness if you want to boycott one gaming company, you should look at others. You don't have to boycott them, but saying Ubisoft treats their employees badly so I won't play their game, I'll go play an EA title instead seems odd. You can say that Ubisoft makes the occasional good game, so I'll give them a pass on those games, but I'm boycotting all of EA. That's fair too. But you shouldn't just ignore other companies and their problems. Each one should be viewed, weighed and judged accordingly.

 

[CriticalGaming]

Absolutely you should pick and choose what you're comfortable with. But I do think in fairness if you want to boycott one gaming company, you should look at others. You don't have to boycott them, but saying Ubisoft treats their employees badly so I won't play their game, I'll go play an EA title instead seems odd. You can say that Ubisoft makes the occasional good game, so I'll give them a pass on those games, but I'm boycotting all of EA. That's fair too. But you shouldn't just ignore other companies and their problems. Each one should be viewed, weighed and judged accordingly.

I guess the question becomes, do the actions of the higher ups mean you wont play a game they didn't actually develop or have anything to do with from a design standpoint?

Like if everything a company makes (not saying Ubisoft makes nothing but gold) is great and you love it, but you learn the CEO's are evil fuckheads, does that mean you morally have to shun games you like?

IF so, then capitalism in general can't be supported because every company has drama behind it. People are people and not everyone makes the best descisions, sometimes they force crunch, or they say sexist comments when they shouldn't, or whatever.

What is supposed to be ignored, and what is overlooked for the good of the industry you love? Because at some point you'd essentially have to walk away from gaming altogether because no company is safe from some sort of bullshit.