Ubisoft is preparing to shut down the online services for a list of its older games. So, if you’ve been enjoying games like Assassin’s Creed II on your Xbox 360 or Splinter Cell: Conviction, brace yourself for some changes. Starting January 25, 2024, various older Ubisoft games will lose their online capabilities. The move has sparked some conversation around the company’s approach to its aging game catalog.
Ubisoft made it clear that ending these services isn’t a whimsical decision. They attribute it to aging technology that has become outdated. Ubisoft stated, “Decommissioning such services for older games is not something we take lightly, but is necessary as the technology that drove those services has grown obsolete.” With this move, they seem to be making space for new technological advancements.
For those who still hold on to their older consoles or enjoy playing legacy games on their PC, this change could be a real bummer. The list of affected games includes four titles from the Assassin’s Creed series, entries from Ghost Recon and Splinter Cell, and even a game from the Trials series. This means no more multiplayer matches, no more linking Ubisoft accounts in-game, and the discontinuation of other online features for these games.
If this news feels familiar, that’s because Ubisoft has done this before. Some of these titles had their online services disabled on other platforms in 2022. Ubisoft has gone through earlier “decommissioning” phases, indicating that this is part of a broader strategy to focus on newer titles and technologies.
Below you can find the titles that are being impacted by this change.
| Game name | Platform | Changes to functionality |
|---|---|---|
| Assassin’s Creed II | Xbox 360 | You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Additionally, the Ubisoft Connect rewards will be unavailable. |
| Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood | MAC | You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Additionally, the Ubisoft Connect rewards will be unavailable. |
| Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD | PlayStation 3 Xbox 360 | You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Additionally, the Ubisoft Connect rewards will be unavailable. |
| Assassin’s Creed Revelations | PC | You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Additionally, the Ubisoft Connect rewards will be unavailable. |
| Ghost Recon Future Soldier | PC | You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Additionally, the Ubisoft Connect rewards will be unavailable. |
| Heroes of Might and Magic VI | PC | You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Additionally, the Ubisoft Connect rewards will be unavailable. |
| NCSI | PC | You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Additionally, the Ubisoft Connect rewards will be unavailable. |
| Splinter Cell: Conviction | Xbox 360 | You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Additionally, the Ubisoft Connect rewards will be unavailable. |
| R.U.S.E. | PC | You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Additionally, the Ubisoft Connect rewards will be unavailable. |
| Trials Evolution | PC | You will be unable to play multiplayer, link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features. Additionally, the Ubisoft Connect rewards will be unavailable. |
As technology keeps evolving, it’s clear that the lifespan of online services for video games may not be as long-lasting as the games themselves. The changes Ubisoft is making might be the tip of the iceberg for the industry. What can consumers expect in the future? Well, it would be wise to anticipate more announcements like this, not just from Ubisoft, but from other major gaming companies as well.
