So, it’s finally here.after teasing Ubisoft Plus After a stint on the Xbox, the French publisher has finally launched its service for Microsoft’s console. But it’s not coming in the way many people mistakenly thought it would be.
Ubisoft first announced the Xbox version of Ubisoft Plus in January 2022, and for a while, many believed the service would be available bundled with an active Xbox Game Pass subscription. but it is not the truth.
Ubisoft+ Multi Access allows games to be played on multiple platforms through a single subscription – including PC via Ubisoft Connect, Amazon Luna and now Xbox. So it makes sense that it wouldn’t be tied directly into the Microsoft ecosystem: that would freeze the ability to play elsewhere.
But players found the asking price difficult to swallow. The Ubisoft Plus Multi Access plan costs £14.99/$17.99/$17.99 per month and offers fewer games than Game Pass Ultimate (£10.99 per month) or even regular Game Pass (£7.99 per month).
Of course, there are some big modern titles on Ubisoft’s service like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Far Cry 6, The Division 2, Republic of Knights, For Honor, Rainbow Six Siege, The Crew 2, Steep Mountain, Watch Dogs : Legion etc. – but no the banner game, now. No big subtitle headline will pull people in like a lightning rod.
Perhaps when Assassin’s Creed Phantasm launches later this year (or if we see what happens with Beyond Good and Evil 2), there may be a smarter way to entice Ubisoft Plus–but for now, take this extra Adding the cost to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate’s top-tier monthly payout is a bit rich for me. Especially when Game Pass currently offers such a great value.
Add in the fact that some Ubisoft titles are currently on standard Xbox Game Pass (Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Origins, Rainbow Six Siege, Far Cry 5, For Honor, and Watch Dogs 2), and the price becomes even more difficult to swallow. It’s worth noting that Ubisoft Plus does offer all the DLC that includes the game, while Game Pass doesn’t, which means you’ll get the full version, but is that enough to hand over the extra cash?
So why isn’t the service tied into Game Pass (similar to how EA Play is part of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate?) Ubisoft+ director Philippe Tremblay shed light on this topic in an interview with iGamesNews’s sister site GI.biz.
“We don’t necessarily see the maximum opportunity in this market,” Tremblay explained. “We’re offering subscription offers, even from Xbox or other partners, which is still pretty new in every way.”
So, basically, what Tremblay is saying is that the game subscription market isn’t saturated yet, and Ubisoft is eager to make a move while there’s still room. That seems a little cynical if you ask me. Tremblay notes that Ubi hopes to “attract a new demographic of gamers” with this subscription offer, but I’m skeptical — the entry price is exorbitant (even higher than Game Pass) and I don’t see it being a really popular one. Games until Ubi’s engine is running again and the publisher shakes off the slump it’s been in for the past few years.
Perhaps when the service launches on PlayStation (right now, you only have the Ubisoft+ Classics collection on the other side of the console fence), the deal will look a little sweeter.As it stands, it’s a tough sell — and
To sign up for Ubisoft Plus and see an ever-growing list of games, check out the link.
