![Ubisoft Game Decommissioning Controversy Ubisoft Game Decommissioning Controversy discussing ubisoft removing games from steam with an image of assassins creed liberation.](https://i.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/mobile/000/041/095/cover7.jpg)
Ubisoft Game Decommissioning Controversy
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Overview
Ubisoft Game Decommissioning Controversy, also known as Ubisoft Removing Games from Steam, is a controversy spawned by Ubisoft's July 2022 announcement that several video games released by the company between 2009 and 2013, including several Assassins Creed installments, will be decommissioned in September 2022, meaning that their multiplayer features and DLC will become unavailable. The announcement was initially interpreted by some as Ubisoft fully removing access to one of the titles, Assassin's Creed Liberation HD, which caused a backlash on social media and some users advocating piracy. Ubisoft later clarified that the game will remain available to owners.
Background
On July 1st, 2022, French video game publisher Ubisoft announced[1][2] that on September 1st, 2022, it would be decommissioning (deactivating online services) 15 of its video games released between 2009 and 2013, including Anno 2070, several Assassin's Creed installments, Driver San Francisco, Far Cry 3, Rayman Legends and Splinter Cell: Blacklist. All the games will no longer have access to multiplayer and other online features, with DLCs for titles that had them also becoming inaccessible (tweet and blog post screenshot shown below, left and right).
![Ubisoft: "We will be deactivating online services on some of our older titles on September 1st, 2022" Ubisoft Support @UbisoftSupport We will be deactivating online services on some of our older titles on September 1st, 2022. You can find the list of titles, platforms and impacts here. ubi.li/zlNmg 12:01 PM Jul 1, 2022. Twitter Web App](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/447/a3a.jpg)
![Decommissioning of online services (September 2022) Decommissioning of online services (September 2022) Closing the online services for some older games allows us to focus our resources on delivering great experiences for players who are playing newer or more popular titles. To help us achieve this, a number of older titles will be added to our list of decommissioned online services on 1 September 2022. Below you will find a detailed breakdown for the effects of this new round of decommissions per platform. Game name Anno 2070 Assassin's Creed II Assassin's Creed 3 (2012 Release)* Assassin's Creed Brotherhood Assassin's Creed Liberation HD Platform PC PC PlayStation 3 PC PlayStation 3 Wii U Xbox 360 PC PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 PC Changes to functionality You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Additionally, the installation and access to downloadable content (DLC) will be unavailable. You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Additionally, the installation and access to DLC will be unavailable. You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. You will be unable to link Ubisoft accounts in- game or use online features. Additionally, the installation and access to DLC will be unavailable.](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/388/ce3.jpg)
On July 10th, 2022, Twitter[3] user @ChaosBahamut posted a screenshot of a Steam store page for Assassin's Creed Liberation HD which, at that moment, had two disclaimers, one announcing that the game is no longer available for purchase and the other reading, "Please not this title will not be accessible following September 1st, 2022." In the tweet, @ChaosBahamut wrote, "Take care when buying games from Ubisoft, they have no issues stealing them from you." The post received over 2,500 retweets and 17,500 likes in two days (shown below, left). Later on July 10th, Twitter[4] user @Nors3 made a similar post, interpreting the disclaimer as the game becoming fully unavailable for those who purchased it. The tweet received over 2,800 retweets and 21,200 likes in a similar timeframe (shown below, right).
![Take care when buying games from Ubisoft, they have no issues stealing them from you.](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/394/96f.jpg)
!["Ubisoft is making a precedent on Steam as Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD" Nors3.eth @Nors3 Ubisoft is making a precedent on Steam as Assassin's Creed Liberation HD will not be accessible following September 1st, 2022. Even if you already bought it, a bar new low for consumers. All Games > Action Games > Assassin's Creed Franchise > Assassin's Creed® Liberation HD Assassin's Creed® Liberation HD Add to your wishlist ASSASSIN'S CREED LIBERATION HD Follow Ignore Check out the entire Assassin's Creed franchise on Steam Notice: At the request of the publisher, Assassin's Creed® Liberation HD is no longer available for sale on Steam. Notice: Please note this title will not be accessible following September 1st, 2022 2:41 PM Jul 10, 2022 Twitter Web App CRE Community Hub ASSASSINS CREED LIBERATION HD Introducing Assassin's Creed® Liberation HD, the striking chapter of the pre-American Revolution Assassin's Creed saga which arrives for the first time on HD consoles and PC. With improved gameplay, a deeper story, and HD graphics, Liberation is an doo Da immersive and full Assassin's Creed experience.Th... RECENT REVIEWS: Mostly Negative (38) ALL REVIEWS: Mixed (2,208) 15 Jan, 2014 RELEASE DATE: DEVELOPER: PUBLISHER: Ubisoft Sofia Ubisoft Poison Dart Pouch Upgrade Popular user-defined tags for this product Action Female Protagonist Open World Stealth 1 Single-player View Your Queue Gun Powder Po Requires 3rd-Party Account: Uplay (Supports Linking to Steam Account) Requires agreement to a 3rd-party EULA Assassin's Creed Liberation EULA](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/465/511.jpg)
The blog entry[2] about the decommission posted by Ubisoft on July 1st, 2022, stated the following regarding Assassin's Creed Liberation HD:
You will be unable to link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Additionally, the installation and access to DLC will be unavailable.
Developments
On July 11th, 2022, following the initial start of the controversy, Ubisoft issued a clarification that current owners of Assassin's Creed: Liberation HD will "still be able to access, play or redownload" after the game is decommissioned.[5] The game was also put back on sale at its normal price, while the original disclaimer was changed to read, "DLC for this product and online elements and features will become unavailable as of Sept 1st, 2022. The base game will continue to be playable."
Online Reactions
The viral spread of @ChaosBahamut's and @Nors3's tweets on July 10th, 2022, that interpreted the original disclaimer as the game becoming unavailable triggered a viral debate on Twitter,[6][7][8] with users criticizing Ubisoft and discussing the drawbacks of digitally "licensing" games rather than owning physical copies (examples shown below).
!["so Ubisoft is just shutting down their old games" Windows 98 Tech Support @Win98 Tech so Ubisoft is just shutting down their old games they're still for sale they're singleplay games but after Sept 1st you can't play them you can't launch them, you can't do anything why would anyone every buy a Ubisoft or AAA game ever again if this can happen 10:30 AM Jul 10, 2022 TweetDeck](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/390/d16.jpg)
!["Buy physical games"](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/409/f21.jpg)
!["This is why physical media should never be allowed to go away" Xavier Mendoza @Godzilla Mendoza This is why physical media should never be allowed to go away. You don't own a damn thing when it comes to digital only games, you only own a temporary license to access them that can be revoked at any time. Nors3.eth @Nors3 Jul 10 Ubisoft is making a precedent on Steam as Assassin's Creed Liberation HD will not be accessible following September 1st, 2022. Even if you already bought it, a bar new low for consumers. Show this thread All Games > Action Games > Assassin's Creed Franchise > Assassin's Creed® Liberation HD Assassin's Creed® Liberation HD A ASSASSIN'S CREED LIBERATION HD Add to your wishlist Follow Ignore Check out the entire Assassin's Creed franchise on Steam Notice: At the request of the publisher, Assassin's Creed Liberation HD is no longer available for sale on Steam. Notice: Please note this title will not be accessible following September 1st, 2022 CRE 4:52 AM Jul 11, 2022. Twitter for Android Introducing Assassin's Creed® Liberation HD, the striking chapter of the pre-American Revolution Assassin's Creed saga which arrives for the first time on HD consoles and PC. With improved gameplay, a deeper story, and HD graphics, Liberation is an immersive and full Assassin's Creed experience. Th. RELEASE DATE RECENT REVIEWS: Mostly Negative (38) ALL REVIEWS: Mixed (2,208) DEVELOPER PUBLISHER: Poison Dart Pouch Upgrade Community Hub ASSASSIN'S CREED- LIBERATION HD 15 Jan, 2014 Ubisoft Sofia Ubisoft Popular user-defined tags for this product Action Female Protagonist Open World Stealth + Single-player View Your Queue Gun Powder Po Requires 3rd-Party Account: Uplay (Supports Linking to Steam Account) Requires agreement to a 3rd-party EULA Assassin's Creed Liberation EULA](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/401/cbe.jpg)
Some Twitter users advocated pirating the company's games rather than buying them (example tweets shown below),[9][10][11] with several users using the It's Always Morally Correct meme format.
!["this further cements the moral imperative to never ever buy a single thing from them anymore and pirate the living hell out RagnarRox @RagnarRoxShow Ubisoft deciding to decommission older single player games and make them completely inaccessible to people who've bought them further cements the moral imperative to never ever buy a single thing from them anymore and pirate the living hell out of anything they put out. . 5:29 AM - Jul 11, 2022. Twitter Web App](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/403/a76.jpg)
!["It's crazy how necessary piracy has become for this silly industry" minimme @minimme It's crazy how necessary piracy has become for this silly industry, just in terms of preservation alone. Imagine how much would be widely inaccessible if not completely lost if piracy wasn't a thing Jack: The Happy-Go-Lucky Autist @ChaosBahamut - Jul 10 Take care when buying games from Ubisoft, they have no issues stealing them from you. Exhibit A: Show this thread All Games > Action Games > Assassin's Creed Franchise > Assassin's Creed® Liberation HD Assassin's Creed® Liberation HD Sign in to add this item to your wishlist, follow it, or mark it as ignored Check out the entire Assassin's Creed franchise on Steam Poison Dart Pou Notice: At the request of the publisher, Assassin's Creed® Liberation HD is no longer available for sale on Steam. Notice: Please note this title will not be accessible following September 1st, 2022 1:37 AM - Jul 11, 2022 - Twitter Web App](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/397/071.jpg)
![Piracy is always morally okay. Mutahar @OrdinaryGamers Piracy is always morally okay. A Nors3.eth @Nors3 - Jul 10 Ubisoft is making a precedent on Steam as Assassin's Creed Liberation HD will not be accessible following September 1st, 2022. Even if you already bought it, a bar new low for consumers. Show this thread All Games > Action Games > Assassin's Creed Franchise > Assassin's Creed® Liberation HD Assassin's Creed® Liberation HD Add to your wishlist ASSASSIN'S CREED- LIBERATION HD Follow Ignore Check out the entire Assassin's Creed franchise on Steam Notice: At the request of the publisher, Assassin's Creed® Liberation HD is no longer available for sale on Steam. Notice: Please note this title will not be accessible following September 1st, 2022 8:59 PM Jul 11, 2022 · Twitter for iPhone CRE IBE! DEVELOPER: PUBLISHER: Introducing Assassin's Creed® Liberation HD, the striking chapter of the pre-American Revolution Assassin's Creed saga which arrives for the first time on HD consoles and PC. With improved gameplay, a deeper story, and HD graphics, Liberation is an doo Da immersive and full Assassin's Creed experience.Th... RECENT REVIEWS: Mostly Negative (38) ALL REVIEWS: Mixed (2,208) RELEASE DATE: 15 Jan, 2014 Poison Dart Pouch Upgrade Community Hub Ubisoft Sofia Ubisoft ASSASSIN'S CREED LIBERATION HD Popular user-defined tags for this product: Action Female Protagonist Open World Stealth 1 Single-player : View Your Queue >> Gun Powder Pouc Requires 3rd-Party Account: Uplay (Supports Linking to Steam Account) Requires agreement to a 3rd-party EULA Assassin's Creed Liberation EULA](https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/002/402/436/757.jpg)
On Steam, Assassin's Creed Liberation HD was review-bombed in mid-July 2022 as a result of the backlash (examples shown below).[12][13]
![Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD Steam Review 61 people found this review helpful 2 Not Recommended 0.0 hrs last two weeks / 7.0 hrs on record Posted: 8 Jul @ 7:20am Ubisoft delisted this game adding that it will be inaccessible following September 1st, 2022. So I basically bought a digital paperweight. Thanks Ubi. I'll end this brief review with a quote that should be fully understood before purchasing any Ubisoft titles. "We think there is a fundamental misconception about piracy. Piracy is almost always a service problem and not a pricing problem," he said. "If a pirate offers a product anywhere in the world, 24 x 7, purchasable from the convenience of your personal computer, and the legal provider says the product is region-locked, will come to your country 3 months after the US release, and can only be purchased at a brick and mortar store, then the pirate's service is more valuable." -Gabe Newell Was this review helpful? Yes No Funny Award](https://a.kym-cdn.com/assets/blank-b3f96f160b75b1b49b426754ba188fe8.gif)
![Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD Steam Review #2 35 people found this review helpful 1 person found this review funny Not Recommended 0.0 hrs last two weeks / 10.2 hrs on record Posted: 10 Jul @ 6:58pm Wow, so I paid $20 for a game that I will not be able to play anymore. So I paid money for a product that was then taken away from me, without my consent, and without any form of compensation. All because they fundamentally misunderstand piracy and can't be bothered to remove the DRM. This is theft through and through. ♥♥♥♥ Ubisoft, and ♥♥♥♥ Valve for doing nothing about it. Capitalism will be the death of the gaming industry, mark my words. Was this review helpful? Yes No Funny Award](https://a.kym-cdn.com/assets/blank-b3f96f160b75b1b49b426754ba188fe8.gif)
Search Interest
External References
[1] Twitter – @UbisoftSupport
[2] Ubisoft – Decommissioning of online services
[3] Twitter – @ChaosBahamut
[6] Twitter – @Win98Tech
[7] Twitter – @ModernVintageG
[8] Twitter – @GodzillaMendoza
[9] Twitter – @Actually_Tina
[11] Twitter – @OrdinaryGamers
[12] GamesRadar – Ubisoft says owners will still be able to access delisted games amid AC review-bomb
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