Uhh, weird bit of news today. Ubisoft just announced that Activision Blizzard games will be coming to their subscription service, Ubisoft+. It will only be via cloud streaming, so you won't be able to download the games to your console. Ubisoft will also have the ability to license those games to other gaming companies, service providers and console makers.
This is a very odd announcement, since Microsoft offers cloud streaming via Xbox Cloud Gaming, which is included in the price of Game Pass. However, that program is still in beta and is not available in a good number of countries, while Ubisoft+ is more widespread.
The article (quoted in full below) mentions that this deal includes the complete slate of current Activision Blizzard games, as well as any games released 15 years from the closing of the deal with Microsoft. You'll be able to access those games on PC, Xbox, and Amazon Luna, as well as on PlayStation via Ubisoft+ Classics. More details will be revealed in the future.
Quote From Ubisoft Yes, you read that headline right.
Ubisoft today announced the signing of an agreement which will give Ubisoft cloud streaming rights to games like Call of Duty and more, coming into effect upon the completion of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The agreement includes the complete slate of current Activision Blizzard games, as well as all their new titles launching in the 15 years after the closing of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The games will land on Ubisoft+, while also allowing Ubisoft to license them to cloud gaming companies, service providers, and console makers.
With a single subscription to Ubisoft+ Multi Access, players will soon be able to play their favorite Ubisoft and Activision Blizzard games across multiple platforms including PC, Xbox consoles and Amazon Luna, and on the PlayStation platform through Ubisoft+ Classics. The agreement will offer players even greater access to a large library of beloved and classic titles as well as the newest releases, all through cloud streaming.
Cloud gaming allows a wide range of content to be accessed on a multitude of devices, giving players even more ways to play on a broader range of hardware with fewer barriers. “We’re dedicated to delivering amazing experiences to our players wherever they choose to play,” said Chris Early, Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships and Business Development, Ubisoft. “Over the past 15 years we’ve built and honed our online services and distribution ecosystem into one of the most complete in the industry. Today’s deal gives players even more opportunities to access and enjoy some of the biggest brands in gaming.”
Ubisoft will announce more about how and when Activision Blizzard titles will be added to Ubisoft+ and other cloud gaming platforms in the future. In the meantime, discover what’s available with Ubisoft+ and stay tuned to the Ubisoft News homepage for more news and updates.
What do you think about this development? Will you get Ubisoft+ to stream Call of Duty, or just get the game on disk? Let us know in the comments below!
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Comments
This news are really surprising... Not going to affect me a lot as I am more of a "own my games" gamer (better physical when possible) (Yes I know we do not own any games in this digital age). But I really was not expecting them giving their IPs to Ubisoft. I really wonder how much money this deal was worth and if It Will be good for them (possibly Will)
Thanks for the article!
I don't own nor played on consoles before, but for PC, why the hell should i pay a subscription to play some games instead of simply buying those and having them forever?!
This cloud gaming is such a stupidity (for PC at least) that it makes me cringe. If i don't want to play anything for 2 weeks every month or if i play only a few games, guess what, i'm giving Ubisoft money for almost nothing.
And then the "fear of missing out" trick comes into play - if i invested time and money into the cloud gaming, then i should probably keep doing it because otherwise it was for nothing. And they have everything saved there, and there is no other way to access it too!
These companies push these aggressive strategies just to get people hooked and make them pay for nothing in the long term.
No thanks, i'll stick to buying and actually owning the copies of the games i play. That way i can play even 2 days every month, can stop playing for X months if i want to, and so on. My saves will still be there on my hdd without having to pay to use them.