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Ubisoft shifting game lineup to service games, recurring revenue, online/MP support

N

Nirolak

Mrgrgr
In case you need a business speak to English translation, read this as microtransaction and DLC based service games.

At least, the title is about the only way I can figure out how to read this and the slides.

In case you're wondering, it's been hugely successful for them in terms of profitability.

To note, this doesn't mean they'll never release another non-service game or a game without online again, but that's where all the major focus is going. For example, you will notice that even South Park has a season pass.

Ubisoft said:
Yves Guillemot, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, stated “Our excellent performance in
the second quarter as well as the sharp improvement in our profitability during the first six
months of the fiscal year are proof that we have gotten both our digital strategy and our
approach to multiplayer games right. The Crew, The Division and Rainbow Six Siege each have
more than 10 million registered players, demonstrating that we are effectively executing our
business development plan and moving towards an ever-more recurring model. All of our
actions and initiatives are aimed at achieving this objective. We are creating powerful franchises
that offer long-term visibility. Our multi-studios organization enables us to have regular games
releases. And the Live experiences for our consoles and PC games, including our investments in
eSports, encourage long-term player engagement. As a result, Ubisoft is well positioned to
achieve very high value creation over the coming years.”
Click to expand...
Source: https://www.ubisoftgroup.com/comsit...nglish final_tcm99-273979_tcm99-196733-32.pdf

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ubisoftservice67ws8s.png
Click to expand...

Source: https://www.ubisoftgroup.com/comsit...f call final_tcm99-273993_tcm99-196733-32.pdf
 
Haven't played the game myself because I avoid UPlay like the plague but hasn't this model been very successful for R6: Siege both commercially as well as critically?
 
Glass Rebel said:
Haven't played the game myself because I avoid UPlay like the plague but hasn't this model been very successful for R6: Siege both commercially as well as critically?
Click to expand...
Indeed rainbow 6 is the best example of it. More of their titles should follow that model if they're going to do it

DOWN said:
To be fair, it's been a very long time since Splinter Cell was single player only, like well over a decade. People generally like the multiplayer in that franchise.
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Ah well I see no problem than. Long as it's handled well.
 
I'm not horribly opposed to this depending on how it's handled. If it means single player games get extensive DLC after initial release and multiplayer games get lootboxe sort of things, I'm fine. When it becomes play-to-win it becomes a problem for me.
 
Honestly ubisoft has been killing it this gen and their dlc hasn't been too bad nor have they adopted any pay to win antics in any of their games.

The crew
Watch dogs
The division
Rainbow 6 seige
We're great

Watch dogs 2 looks fantastic
South park looks great
For honor is a fresh take nd a new ip
Steep(eh idk about this one but aye new ip again lol)
Assassins Creed about to come back with a bang I feel it!
 
Their post-launch support in terms of "content" to keep consumers interested haven't been very impressive. I think Nirolak, charlequin or duckroll had a good post about it a while back where they mentioned the production paradigm of Ubisoft simply being throwing 800 employees at their projects and then move on to the next one, thus resulting in less staggered software launches.
 
Lime said:
Their post-launch support in terms of "content" to keep consumers interested haven't been very impressive. I think Nirolak, charlequin or duckroll had a good post about it a while back where they mentioned the production paradigm of Ubisoft simply being throwing 800 employees at their projects and then move on to the next one, thus resulting in less staggered software launches.
Click to expand...

They're working on switching that pretty significantly though.

Rainbow Six's post launch content has very aggressive and it's by far been their crown jewel of proving they can do service games.
 
Nirolak said:
They're working on switching that pretty significantly though.

Rainbow Six's post launch content has very aggressive and it's by far been their crown jewel of proving they can do service games.
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Is their another season planned? Thought I heard a poster say that in Another thread
 
Lime said:
Their post-launch support in terms of "content" to keep consumers interested haven't been very impressive. I think Nirolak, charlequin or duckroll had a good post about it a while back where they mentioned the production paradigm of Ubisoft simply being throwing 800 employees at their projects and then move on to the next one, thus resulting in less staggered software launches.
Click to expand...

So, from my understanding, what they mean by offering games as a service is just producing more add on content for existing franchises to increase the lifespan of a majorly released title (via dlc, micro-transactions)? Or is this something entirely different?
 
Eh the industry slightly shifts more and more away from me as a player. I love single player, non online, non coop stuff. If they want to chase profits more power to them. There will always be other games out, or maybe I just won't play games as much anymore. I don't blame Ubisoft. They are chasing/creating the trends. We are seeing it in pretty much every game. Even Halo was messing around with a Russian free to play game, Warzone is a very req based game mode. Games like Destiny, the Division have shown add carrot stick elements and tons of progression/customization and you have people hooked.
 
I wonder what this means for their smaller titles like Rayman or even Child of Light. Sometimes, even seeing microtransactions in a game makes it feel like shit.
 
Madness said:
Eh the industry slightly shifts more and more away from me as a player. I love single player, non online, non coop stuff. If they want to chase profits more power to them. There will always be other games out, or maybe I just won't play games as much anymore. I don't blame Ubisoft. They are chasing/creating the trends. We are seeing it in pretty much every game. Even Halo was messing around with a Russian free to play game, Warzone is a very req based game mode. Games like Destiny, the Division have shown add carrot stick elements and tons of progression/customization and you have people hooked.
Click to expand...

Yeah, the entire AAA space is probably going to trend into service gaming. We'll have to look to indies for that single player fix.
 
i don't see ubi dropping the single player aspects and pretty much all of their franchises have MP so yeah, good news i guess? More support post-launch for the games.
 
It's a shame because I really liked the Ubisoft games at the end of last gen / beginning this gen. I was the person who bought AC every year or honestly all their AAA open world games.
I understand that they mostly had SP games and want to expand in the MP area, everyone is looking at games like GTA Online and Overwatch and even things like Hearthstone, how you can make huge amounts of microtransaction money for not that much work.

That said, it isn't like their AAA-SP games sold bad. Even Syndicate probably sold millions. I just hope the next AC game won't be an online focused game. I hope they make their next open world games like Far Cry 4 for example, you can play with other people, but it isn't necessary or limiting the SP.
 
As if Season 2 of Siege wasn't already a lock, I'd say this confirms it almost outright. The post launch support has been incredible, though the game itself still suffers from some flaws that have been around since launch. Glad that it caught on and is financially one of Ubi's core pillars right now. I just hope they understand why it's gained traction over the past year, and don't ruin the game with anything obtrusive moving forward.
 
Blackleg-sanji1 said:
Is their another season planned? Thought I heard a poster say that in Another thread
Click to expand...

UBI Brazil on Facebook leaked there was going to be a Year 2 season pass. Post has been deleted but they've been hinted at continuing content past Red Crow which is the last planned season.
 
Well, seems like Rocksmith slots in recurring revenue well, so I'm hopeful it'll stay around for a while on that front.
 
Has Ubisoft ever established a multiplayer game with long lasting support and activity? I can't think of a single one.
 
Blackleg-sanji1 said:
There's so many single player only games coming that I can't possibly see how you'd come to that conclusion
Click to expand...

Not like in the next couple years. Maybe over the next decade. If people really like spending money on microtransactions, that'll simply be the most profitable thing and you'd have to be nuts not to do it. But that kind of switch obviously doesn't happen overnight.
 
I assume Ass Creed getting some kind of multiplayer again?

Wouldn't be surprised if they tried something GTA online like somehow.
 
I read this and realise I haven't bought a Ubisoft game in years and don't see anything of interest in the coming months either.

Clearly I'm no longer the audience so hope they can keep their current fans and prosper. Call me when prince of Persia becomes relevant.
 
mnz said:
Has Ubisoft ever established a multiplayer game with long lasting support and activity? I can't think of a single one.
Click to expand...

I remember they always liked to release a quick cash in sequel in fast time.

Rainbow Six 3
Black Arrow
Ghost Recon
Island Thunder
Rainbow Six Vegas
Vegas 2
Far Cry 3
Far Cry 4.

Maybe not so much anymore just bigger and better.
 
I'm fine with the Siege model.

It's a mutually beneficial compromise. Imo. They found a good balance.
 
They've definitely found something that could work really well for them... though it does solidify my complete and utter lack of interest in their output going forward.
 
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