In Ubisoft's recent earnings call (where it was revealed the French company was the top third-party publisher on the Nintendo Switch), CFO Frederick Duguet spoke about the changing model of the publisher.
It will achieve this by focusing on free-to-play titles and premium experiences alongside AAA and back catalog dynamics.
"We said for a number of years that our normal template is to come with either three or four AAA games, so we'll stick to that plan for fiscal 2022. But we see that we are progressively, continuously moving from a model that used to be only focused on AAA releases to a model where we have a combination of strong releases from AAA and strong back catalog dynamics, but also complimenting our program of new releases with free-to-play and other premium experiences."
"In fiscal 2022, we will continue our evolution from a AAA release-centric model toward a model where AAA stands alongside new premium and free-to-play innovative experiences across platforms. These diverse experiences will feed on each other through complementary gameplay and business models."
Ubisoft recently released Watch Dogs 3 and Immortals Fenyx Rising and continues to support free-to-play titles like Hyper Scape and Brawlhalla. In addition to this, it has announced the return of games such as Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time and revived Scott Pilgrim.
What do you make of all this? Leave a comment down below.
[source ign.com, via purexbox.com]
Comments 56
Hahahaha I’m sure they won’t all completely bomb like Hyper Scape!
Well, had some nice memories with Ubisoft. I’ll miss them.
So business as usual?
I don't like / want Free 2 Play games.
I want paid games in physical media.
I want Imagine and Petz return on Nintendo Switch.
@ShadJV Did you read the article? I know I just joked about it, but this is hardly different than what they're doing now
Wait, Ubisoft is French? HOW DID I NOT KNOW THIS?!
....So the next Mario+Rabbids will be a mobile free-to-play game then?
@Entrr_username was literally a joke, my dude.
Oh blah just make a new prince of persia already or go away Ubisoft! So sick of assassin's creed being shoved down our throats every year.
Yep, you guys guessed it.
NINJA DOES NOT APPROVE
Then again, BloodNinja also doesn’t buy Ubisoft games, and hasn’t in 20 years.
Still.
NO APPROVAL FOR OOBISOFT
@Northwind I understand your argument, and I don't strictly disagree per se. I mean, as long as I'm in a shark cage, then a shark encounter will not necessarily be lethal. What you describe sounds like a well-built shark cage.
Still, if a game works as F2P, it will work as a fully developed title, which I am happy to wait for (or never play, otherwise).
Come on Ubisoft I want Assassin's Creed: The Ezio Collection for my Nintendo Switch.
A corporate muppet mumbled:
we see that we are progressively, continuously moving from a model that used to be only focused on AAA releases to a model where we have a combination of strong releases from AAA and strong back catalog dynamics
Ah, the joys of corporate idiolects! Back catalog dynamics... is that like the pain I get after moving my old games off the shelves when I'm dusting? Or is it like the fever dreams where abandoned franchises dance in the corners of my eye?
Hyperscape is boring.
They should start by making Rainbow Six Siege a F2P on Switch.
Here I am wanting a Rayman 3d collection
Okay... I know there's a lot of hate for F2P, but this really isn't a bad thing overall. They've had some really good games that should've been F2P to begin with, like Rainbow Six, Just Dance, and For Honor. I appreciate the one-time purchase option in games, and it seems like they've struck a good balance in many of their titles. The bigger concern is long term support amidst market fragmentation. We've already seen the result of that as they pushed hard for their battle royale game to be a success that became forgotten within weeks. Unfortunately I see that to be even more significant moving forward as more devs seek the attention of gamers, for instance I don't see their roller derby game being successful. Who knows though... There could be surprises in the future.
I don't play Ubisoft games or F2P, but I wanted to chime in. The title is a little misleading...
Their focus isn't F2P (alongside AAA in small print lol). The focus is 3-4 AAA titles and a strong back catalog dynamic complimented by F2P, for the 2022 fiscal year.
They're a business attempting to diversify their strategy moving forward. I'm not really much of a Ubi fan and I never have been. Although, as the top third party developer for the Nintendo Switch, I wish them well.
Ubisoft the European EA.
Y'all can start by making Just Dance Unlimited the main game as opposed to releasing a new version every year... and make Unlimited F2P. The F2P model suits JD far better than what they're doing right now.
You gotta be kidding me.
Maybe Vivendi should of “hostile taken” them over?
I don't mind that they develop F2P games, but it would be nice if their "triple or four AAA games" wouldn't come already with three pre-planned DLCs, season pass, pre-order exclusive content and paid experience boosters.
Premium Experiences, lol,
There seems to be more money to make in F2P. The micro transaction revenue is too much to ignore so it wouldn’t surprise me if in the future, 90% of games become F2P and are then filled with egregious micro transactions.
And I'll show even less love to Ubisoft moving forward.
I just want a new proper Rayman game. Legends was fantastic, was such a disappointment that the next outing was a mobile phone game.
Probably means the Halo Infinite model of multiplayer being free to play meanwhile single player is normal paid approach.
Free to play has pretty much become the norm regarding multiplayer nowadays.
I just can't get behind a revenue model that can't be sufficiently profitable with full price base games, pre-order special editions priced at multiples of base, season passes at 1/3 of base, and tons of cosmetic DLC.
If you can't figure out how to make a game profitably without tapping into continuous revenue from whales your operational and development expenses and/or profit expectations are out of control.
Not a fan of Ubisoft, never have been. The only game they've put out that is genuinely great was Rayman 2. If they were to never make another game again, I wouldn't miss them.
I have 115 hours on Fallout Shelter and haven’t paid anything. And have some time on on MK Tour. Have not paid anything. It works for me mostly bc I play gams in bursts a lot anyway.
Its strange, I remember Ubisoft’s earlier days during the 6th Gen where they published all sorts of games like they were finding their feet (they published 2 of the Tales games on PSP in Europe). Then they found footing in the 7th Gen and went “ALL IN!” during which the “Ubisoft Game” was formed in both its 1st & 3rd person variants.
I know people fondly remember Rayman Origins and Legends but for some reason it never clicked with me. Sold all my copies.
Now, they are kind of the AAA publisher I know exists. Don’t bother with them, don’t care about them, but I know they exist and people like their games.
Yves Guillemot looks so happy in that photo. Can anyone really say no to that face?
Thanks, I hate it.
This company worries me more and more between things like this, their meagre Switch-support and, worst of all, forcing people to sign up to their ad- and tracking scheme in order to play games you've payed full price for... (Yes, every time I played Fenyx Rising I took out my Switch from the dock, put it in Airplane mode, put it back and started the game. Worked excellent and I avoided signing up!)
@Abeedo A very disturbing thought, to be sure...
What sort of coy Valentine's Day shot of Guillemot is that??
So double the amount of rayman mobile games and nothing new for consoles? Good to know I can keep ignoring you ubisoft.
It's difficult to support a company that protects routine sexual harassment and misconduct within its walls.
I wouldn't mind at all if they revived Ghost Recon Phantoms for the Switch! Wishful thinking I know but I loved that game on PC. Could do without about half of the microtransactions though.
Yeah I'm not a fan of companies going all in on the F2P model. Just encourages the corporate greed and over saturation of virtually anything that gets remotely popular. I believe they always at first try to shoot for some middle ground but eventually fall victim to the usual practices that come with the F2P model.
Ubisoft was cool for basically paying people to play Hyper Scape a while back. They had a promotion where if you logged in and played even just one game, they would give you a $10 coupon to the Ubisoft store. So I logged in through GeForce NOW and was only able to get into one match that had only three players (including myself). It was me and some other player versus one guy on a team all by himself. But the solo guy was actually really good, and me and my teammate had no idea what we were doing. The solo guy wiped the floor with us. I promptly logged out, collected my $10 coupon, checked out their online store, decided I didn't really want anything from there at the moment, forgot I had the coupon, and then it expired. Ubisoft 1 - Me 0
So, "Immortals Fenyx Rising 2: The Uprising" will be free, but the DLC will be $100.
The evolution of videogames:
Pay to play
Free to play
Free to Start
$60 to start
Free to start $100 to finish
@Northwind I have to agree with this, after playing a few F2P games, there are games I haven't hit any sort of paywall. Good example, I played Apex on PC for over a year before I ever decided to buy my main a cosmetic item. Very happy it's coming to Switch.
I've played Brawlhalla for years at this point, again, haven't had the need to buy anything, characters unlock using coins earned from simply playing.
I agree, even if it is an unpopular opinion. I also believe it's where online multiplayer is going, due to a game being free leads to more players and it doesn't require a subscription to play on console. Brawlhalla does have 50 million players, that's not a small number at all.
I wonder why they took so long to "adore" this (cruel) "lucrative business", when their "sister" company, Gameloft, has already had time with these practices and it is seen that they have them well "mastered"...
@rjejr
The next evolution:
Pay $ 100 to see the titles and trailer
Pay $ 1,000 to hear the rumour of upcoming games
Pay $ 10,000 to ask the new upcoming games and get the answer directly from Ubisoft
Pay $ 100,000 to see Ubisoft logo with your eyes by accidentally or not.
🤣🤣🤣
Not gonna even read the rest of the comments. I am sure the community here is losing its ever-loving mind over this news, lol
@Anti-Matter You may be right. And all payments have to be made in Bitcoin. 😉
@sanderev except unlike American EA, The European EA is actually supporting Nintendo Switch and making quality titles for the platform
I already found them an lack luster company. This just further lowers my Luke warm opinion of them.
@anoyonmus I haven't seen recent Assassin's Creed games on the Switch. No, Ubisoft only puts C- or D-titles on the Switch like Fenix Rising and that Mario & Rabbids game.
Just like EA does with some smaller D-titles.
@sanderev recent assassin's creed games are actually pretty bad. At least we got Black Flag.
Ubisoft is better when it comes to switch unlike EA.
I see the anti-F2P brigade are out. Sad people.
If I’m enjoying a game, I’ll gladly pay a premium to continue to do so. What I can’t stand though is when a game constantly nickels and dimes you to make progress or remain competitive. It will be interesting to see Ubisoft’s new model going forward.
Some of my most played games are F2P.
They tend to have more updates and the devs actually listen to the community in a lot of cases.
As long as all of the PvE content is manageable for F2P players it's fine in my book.
Then again ubisoft has predatory microtransactions in some of their full price games, so it will probably suck.
Welp... I guess we won't be getting that "Mario + Rabbids: Kingdom Battle" sequel we've all been patiently waiting for... that's a real huge shame... 😔
I will move further and further away from Ubisoft. Hey Ubi read the room FTP is dying.
I thought Fire Emblem Heroes, for F2P, was pretty good. Got in at least 50 hours of quality gaming, for free, before burnout and Switch backlog set in...
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