Ubisoft: Difference between revisions

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Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a multinational video game company, known for developing and publishing popular franchises such as ''Assassin's Creed'', ''Far Cry'', and ''Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six''. The company has positioned itself as a leader in the video game industry, referring to itself as a "AAAA" game company. This claim is debatable.

== ~~Anti-consumer practices~~ ==

== Relevant Incidents ==

=== The Crew shutdown ===

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Star wars outlaws was released in In August of 2024, with two editions that allowed players to have early access to the game for $110 and $130 respectively, approximately twice the cost of the game on release day<ref>https://www.ign.com/articles/star-wars-outlaws-release-date-special-editions</ref>. Ubisoft then pushed an update just before the full release that caused players on PlayStation 5 who had paid extra for the game as early access to have their save file deleted<ref>https://gamerant.com/star-wars-outlaws-bug-delete-save-data-ps5/</ref>. Although the update was intended to fix a game-breaking bug, upon full release many bugs remained<ref>https://www.geeksandgamers.com/star-wars-outlaws-still-looks-buggy-the-week-of-its-release/</ref>. This behavior also highlights an ongoing pattern in which Ubisoft releases an incomplete game, expects players to buy the game and act as the testers, and then patches the game later.

=== ~~Lawsuit "Roofieing"~~ ===

=== Inclusion of lawsuit waiving clauses in game giveaway license ===

In December of 2014, Ubisoft was giving away free licenses for ~~their title~~ Assassin's Creed ~~Unity~~, however there was a catch; ~~hidden within~~ the terms<ref>https://www.gamespot.com/articles/assassin-s-creed-unity-free-game-offer-waives-laws/1100-6424381/</ref> for the clickwrap agreement in obtaining the game for free ~~were some lines that in summation stated~~ that the user could not sue Ubisoft. <ref>''You hereby irrevocably and unconditionally RELEASE, WAIVE, AND FOREVER DISCHARGE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE Ubisoft Entertainment S.A., and each of its past, present and future divisions, parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors, successors and assigns, together with all of their respective past, present and future employees, officers, shareholders, directors and agents, and those who give recommendations, directions, or instructions or engage in risk evaluation or loss control activities regarding the Campaign (all for the purposes herein referred to as “Released Parties”) FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY TO YOU, your assigns, heirs, and next of kin FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, CHARGES, LAWSUITS, DEBTS, DEFENSES, ACTIONS OR CAUSES OF ACTION, OBLIGATIONS, DAMAGES, LOSS OF SERVICE, COMPENSATION, PAIN AND SUFFERING, ATTORNEYS’ FEES, AND COST AND EXPENSES OF SUIT, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED OR UNSUSPECTED, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE PURCHASE, ACQUISITION, RENTAL, POSSESSION AND/OR USAGE, AND/OR THE INTENT TO PURCHASE, ACQUIRE, RENT, POSSESS AND/OR USE, THE ASSASSIN’S CREED UNITY VIDEO GAME AND/OR THE ASSASSIN’S CREED UNITY SEASON PASS ON ANY AND ALL PLATFORMS, AND/OR RELATED TO THE CAMPAIGN, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASED PARTIES OR OTHERWISE.''

In December of 2014, Ubisoft was giving away free licenses for a game, however there was a catch; the terms<ref>https://www.gamespot.com/articles/assassin-s-creed-unity-free-game-offer-waives-laws/1100-6424381/</ref> for the clickwrap agreement in obtaining the game for free contained a clause stating that the user could not sue Ubisoft in relation to Assassin's Creed Unity or its Season Pass. <ref>''You hereby irrevocably and unconditionally RELEASE, WAIVE, AND FOREVER DISCHARGE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE Ubisoft Entertainment S.A., and each of its past, present and future divisions, parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors, successors and assigns, together with all of their respective past, present and future employees, officers, shareholders, directors and agents, and those who give recommendations, directions, or instructions or engage in risk evaluation or loss control activities regarding the Campaign (all for the purposes herein referred to as “Released Parties”) FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY TO YOU, your assigns, heirs, and next of kin FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, CHARGES, LAWSUITS, DEBTS, DEFENSES, ACTIONS OR CAUSES OF ACTION, OBLIGATIONS, DAMAGES, LOSS OF SERVICE, COMPENSATION, PAIN AND SUFFERING, ATTORNEYS’ FEES, AND COST AND EXPENSES OF SUIT, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED OR UNSUSPECTED, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE PURCHASE, ACQUISITION, RENTAL, POSSESSION AND/OR USAGE, AND/OR THE INTENT TO PURCHASE, ACQUIRE, RENT, POSSESS AND/OR USE, THE ASSASSIN’S CREED UNITY VIDEO GAME AND/OR THE ASSASSIN’S CREED UNITY SEASON PASS ON ANY AND ALL PLATFORMS, AND/OR RELATED TO THE CAMPAIGN, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASED PARTIES OR OTHERWISE.''

Via http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/12/18/your-assassin-s-creed-unity-season-pass-free-game-comes-with-a-legal-catch.aspx

[http://web.archive.org/web/20141222024011/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/12/18/your-assassin-s-creed-unity-season-pass-free-game-comes-with-a-legal-catch.aspx Archive]</ref> ~~It is unknown whether or not these terms remain to be valid over a decade later.~~

[http://web.archive.org/web/20141222024011/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/12/18/your-assassin-s-creed-unity-season-pass-free-game-comes-with-a-legal-catch.aspx Archive]</ref>

=== Executive comments ===

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 Ubisoft Entertainment S.A. is a multinational video game company, known for developing and publishing popular franchises such as ''Assassin's Creed'', ''Far Cry'', and ''Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six''. The company has positioned itself as a leader in the video game industry, referring to itself as a "AAAA" game company. This claim is debatable.
-== Anti-consumer practices ==
+== Relevant Incidents ==
 === The Crew shutdown ===
@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 Star wars outlaws was released in In August of 2024, with two editions that allowed players to have early access to the game for $110 and $130 respectively, approximately twice the cost of the game on release day<ref>https://www.ign.com/articles/star-wars-outlaws-release-date-special-editions</ref>. Ubisoft then pushed an update just before the full release that caused players on PlayStation 5 who had paid extra for the game as early access to have their save file deleted<ref>https://gamerant.com/star-wars-outlaws-bug-delete-save-data-ps5/</ref>. Although the update was intended to fix a game-breaking bug, upon full release many bugs remained<ref>https://www.geeksandgamers.com/star-wars-outlaws-still-looks-buggy-the-week-of-its-release/</ref>. This behavior also highlights an ongoing pattern in which Ubisoft releases an incomplete game, expects players to buy the game and act as the testers, and then patches the game later.
-=== Lawsuit "Roofieing"<!-- May want a better name for this, or at least a better way to spell this abnormal word... --> ===
+=== Inclusion of lawsuit waiving clauses in game giveaway license ===
-In December of 2014, Ubisoft was giving away free licenses for their title Assassin's Creed Unity, however there was a catch; hidden within the terms<ref>https://www.gamespot.com/articles/assassin-s-creed-unity-free-game-offer-waives-laws/1100-6424381/</ref> for the clickwrap agreement in obtaining the game for free were some lines that in summation stated that the user could not sue Ubisoft. <ref>''You hereby irrevocably and unconditionally RELEASE, WAIVE, AND FOREVER DISCHARGE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE Ubisoft Entertainment S.A., and each of its past, present and future divisions, parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors, successors and assigns, together with all of their respective past, present and future employees, officers, shareholders, directors and agents, and those who give recommendations, directions, or instructions or engage in risk evaluation or loss control activities regarding the Campaign (all for the purposes herein referred to as “Released Parties”) FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY TO YOU, your assigns, heirs, and next of kin FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, CHARGES, LAWSUITS, DEBTS, DEFENSES, ACTIONS OR CAUSES OF ACTION, OBLIGATIONS, DAMAGES, LOSS OF SERVICE, COMPENSATION, PAIN AND SUFFERING, ATTORNEYS’ FEES, AND COST AND EXPENSES OF SUIT, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED OR UNSUSPECTED, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE PURCHASE, ACQUISITION, RENTAL, POSSESSION AND/OR USAGE, AND/OR THE INTENT TO PURCHASE, ACQUIRE, RENT, POSSESS AND/OR USE, THE ASSASSIN’S CREED UNITY VIDEO GAME AND/OR THE ASSASSIN’S CREED UNITY SEASON PASS ON ANY AND ALL PLATFORMS, AND/OR RELATED TO THE CAMPAIGN, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASED PARTIES OR OTHERWISE.''
+In December of 2014, Ubisoft was giving away free licenses for a game<!-- initially this said 'for assassin's creed unity', but from what I can tell from the linked article, it wasn't Unity which was actually given away. also this should mention that it's not like the disney situation - the right to sue was only waived in relation to Assassin's Creed unity and its Season Pass. -->, however there was a catch; the terms<ref>https://www.gamespot.com/articles/assassin-s-creed-unity-free-game-offer-waives-laws/1100-6424381/</ref> for the clickwrap agreement in obtaining the game for free contained a clause stating that the user could not sue Ubisoft in relation to Assassin's Creed Unity or its Season Pass. <ref>''You hereby irrevocably and unconditionally RELEASE, WAIVE, AND FOREVER DISCHARGE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE Ubisoft Entertainment S.A., and each of its past, present and future divisions, parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors, successors and assigns, together with all of their respective past, present and future employees, officers, shareholders, directors and agents, and those who give recommendations, directions, or instructions or engage in risk evaluation or loss control activities regarding the Campaign (all for the purposes herein referred to as “Released Parties”) FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY TO YOU, your assigns, heirs, and next of kin FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, CHARGES, LAWSUITS, DEBTS, DEFENSES, ACTIONS OR CAUSES OF ACTION, OBLIGATIONS, DAMAGES, LOSS OF SERVICE, COMPENSATION, PAIN AND SUFFERING, ATTORNEYS’ FEES, AND COST AND EXPENSES OF SUIT, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED OR UNSUSPECTED, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE PURCHASE, ACQUISITION, RENTAL, POSSESSION AND/OR USAGE, AND/OR THE INTENT TO PURCHASE, ACQUIRE, RENT, POSSESS AND/OR USE, THE ASSASSIN’S CREED UNITY VIDEO GAME AND/OR THE ASSASSIN’S CREED UNITY SEASON PASS ON ANY AND ALL PLATFORMS, AND/OR RELATED TO THE CAMPAIGN, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASED PARTIES OR OTHERWISE.''
 Via http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/12/18/your-assassin-s-creed-unity-season-pass-free-game-comes-with-a-legal-catch.aspx
-[http://web.archive.org/web/20141222024011/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/12/18/your-assassin-s-creed-unity-season-pass-free-game-comes-with-a-legal-catch.aspx Archive]</ref> It is unknown whether or not these terms remain to be valid over a decade later.
+[http://web.archive.org/web/20141222024011/http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/12/18/your-assassin-s-creed-unity-season-pass-free-game-comes-with-a-legal-catch.aspx Archive]</ref>
 === Executive comments ===