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[Halabane]

Yeah screw you Ubisoft for trying to make money! You selfish bastards or templars.
Just pisses me off that people use free market and desire to ensure they have as many sources of income to help ensure that they stay in business. Bastards.

Its oh so much better we build a monopoly in one company...who oddly was once like ubisoft (where is my half-life Gabe!) and got into the distribution game to ensure they had alternative sources of revenue. oh and got wildly rich.

If their games suck don't buy them...if its impossible to play because of their version of drm don't buy them. If they fail at that they will go away. But right now it seems its getting real hard to build AAA games because of the cost. I like AAA games. Indies are fun but I like enjoy the big games. I think this about survival. I also agree that ubi does not have EAs catalog...so I wonder if other EU firms will join them??

looks like this may be getting real: http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ubisofts-biggest-2014-games-axed-from-steam-in-uk-/1100-6423402/

Seems the publisher has confirmed pulling it from steam uk. I believe this how EA started with Origin. So this may very well be happening.

 

[CosmicQueso]

How could it be profitable if sales drop a lot ?

Well, they're betting that the decline in sales won't be as bad as the increase in rev per sale.

If they were selling AC Unity at $60 on Steam, they only saw 70%ish of the rev, or around $42.

If they go direct, they get the full $60.

They're betting that they won't see over 30% decline in unit sales going direct.

If sales fall 28% by going direct, they still make more money than they would otherwise.

 

[Gorillaz]

* 5 years later *

Oh nice I have some free time to play a game. Lets see what program I should open:

Origin - EA games
Uplay - Ubisoft
ActiPlay - Activision
2Kplay - 2k Games
Battle.Net - Blizzard games
Steam - Valve and Indy games
GOG Galaxy - gog.com games

Can't fucking wait.

Pretty much. Can't stop. Won't stop

Spoiler

/Diddy bop

 

[Megasoum]

Their games are still on Origin. Good thing since I have Farcry 4 pre-ordered there.

 

[ISee]

I doubt Ubi's margins for PC sales will do anything but plumit due to this, I don't think they've got the clout to force themselves from Steam's ecosystem. We'll probably see them back on Steam after a while.

Or, more likely, they'll push harder and harder until they give up completely.

Future Ubisoft statement to descending PC sales

"We see a dramatic decrease in PC sales because of illegal pirating! It has nothing to do with our PC strategy, our bad ports, or our PR whom nobody trusts at this point."

But to be honest, I doubt the PC sales are going to go down for Ubi because of this. When buying Ubi games in the past on steam you also had to activate them on Uplay. So most Steam Ubi buyers already have an UPlay account.

 

[derExperte]

EA hasn't come crawling back to valve since they bolted from Steam

They come crawling every few weeks to beg for some money via a sale.

 

[benny_a]

I had to use it to install Splinter Cell: Blacklist not too long ago and I can assert to you it is still by far the worst thing I've used since the 90's.

Allegedly all games in 2014 are using their new patching process and not the launch -> download single patch -> start game -> exit game -> launch game -> download single patch -> start game cycle.

----
Anyway this move will be interesting to see in less than 6 months from now because of the Far Cry 4 sales. Far Cry 3 sold a shit ton on PC (I think 1/3rd of all sales were on PC).

Pulling numbers out of my ass but imagining that new consoles have revitalized attach rates I think PC should have been at 20% or so given no other variable changed.

 

[Dysun]

It was just a matter of time, too bad. I like everything under the same umbrella

 

[Nokterian]

Refreshed the top 10 list on steam.

 

[SmartWaffles]

must be an error/glitch

https://steamdb.info/?long_history

[298110] Removed store name – Far Cry® 4
[324340] Removed store name – Far Cry® 4 Season Pass
[324330] Removed store name – Assassin’s Creed® Unity Season Pass

It's not a glitch if it showed up in the steam db log like this, it is intentional.

 

[Jibbajabbawockky]

But BF3 was the first game from EA that made origin mandatory. Other games were released on Steam.

True, I'm just saying that with Crysis 2 and DA2, those games were pulled from Steam after a point when they were still fairly new. And the mandatory install of Origin for BF3 happened well in advance of BF3 being released.

With Ubi and them jumping ship from Steam, this isn't happening months in advance of their big flagship games coming out. It's happening less than a week before AC and less than 2 weeks for Far Cry. That just seems kind of odd.

 

[Nirolak]

Well, they're betting that the decline in sales won't be as bad as the increase in rev per sale.

If they were selling AC Unity at $60 on Steam, they only saw 70%ish of the rev, or around $42.

If they go direct, they get the full $60.

They're betting that they won't see over 30% decline in unit sales going direct.

If sales fall 28% by going direct, they still make more money than they would otherwise.

That EA hasn't actually went back suggests they feel that Origin was successful in this regard too.

 

[Veritigo_X]

Just curious, but what happens if you pre-ordered on Steam? I was actually close to doing it earlier this week, but I won't bother now.

 

[Freedom = $1.05]

They come crawling every few weeks to beg for some money via a sale.

true, but they're still keeping their post-BF3 games off of the platform.

 

[epmode]

Well, they're betting that the decline in sales won't be as bad as the increase in rev per sale.

If they were selling AC Unity at $60 on Steam, they only saw 70%ish of the rev, or around $42.

If they go direct, they get the full $60.

They're betting that they won't see over 30% decline in unit sales going direct.

If sales fall 28% by going direct, they still make more money than they would otherwise.

EA and Ubi are still selling their games on other DD sites besides their own, and they're still losing 30% on those sites.

So they're targeting Valve specifically.

Megapublishers being megapublishers, basically. The industry would be better off without them.

 

[iNvid02]

Allegedly all games in 2014 are using their new patching process and not the launch -> download single patch -> start game -> exit game -> launch game -> download single patch -> start game cycle.

this is correct, the first game to not use manual patching was black flag. anything older than that and you'd better put aside 10-15 minutes because you're gonna be patching shit yourself

 

[roytheone]

Jay, I am so looking forward to downloading all my ubisoft pc games with 700 KB/s download speed instead of the 10 MB/s I get on steam!

 

[UnderWaterTree]

Yeah screw you Ubisoft for trying to make money! You selfish bastards or templars.
Just pisses me off that people use free market and desire to ensure they have as many sources of income to help ensure that they stay in business. Bastards.

Its oh so much better we build a monopoly in one company...who oddly was once like ubisoft (where is my half-life Gabe!) and got into the distribution game to ensure they had alternative sources of revenue. oh and got wildly rich.

If their games suck don't buy them...if its impossible to play because of their version of drm don't buy them. If they fail at that they will go away. But right now it seems its getting real hard to build AAA games because of the cost. I like AAA games. Indies are fun but I like enjoy the big games. I think this about survival. I also agree that ubi does not have EAs catalog...so I wonder if other EU firms will join them??

looks like this may be getting real: http://www.gamespot.com/articles/ubisofts-biggest-2014-games-axed-from-steam-in-uk-/1100-6423402/

Seems the publisher has confirmed pulling it from steam uk. I believe this how EA started with Origin. So this may very well be happening.

it make sense really more money and control

 

[CosmicQueso]

EA and Ubi are still selling their games on other DD sites besides their own, and they're still losing 30% on those sites.

So they're targeting Valve specifically.

Not necessarily. Very tough to say what those other agreements may be.

 

[Bronetta]

Goodbye Ubisoft.

They'll probably find a way to blame this on PC gamers too.

 

[MikeE21286]

wonde if this cones off the heels of the success of ea acess

 

[The Llama]

Ya know, I don't even mind Origin, but Uplay? Terrible. Hope this doesn't happen.

 

[kabel]

What if Ubi devs are playing a drinking game?

 

[The Faceless Master]

dat 30%

 

[BlackBuzzard]

Is it piracy if i buy a legit copy of the game, but then download a cracked version and play that so i can avoid all this uplay bs?

 

[Jibbajabbawockky]

EA and Ubi are still selling their games on other DD sites besides their own, and they're still losing 30% on those sites.

So they're targeting Valve specifically.

Megapublishers being megapublishers, basically. The industry would be better off without them.

Yup, its just collusion to stick it to Valve it seems.

 

[Kinthalis]

Valve's cut has been 30% since day one. It hasn't moved. It's also the standard cut across the industry.



Yeah, that's it right there. EA pulled the same shit with their games. You can buy them most everywhere BUT Steam.

It bears mentioning that you can buy Valve games on Origin.

I actually think:

1. This is probably not standard for Valve. I'm guessing it varies as deals with publihers kick in.

2. This an outdated mode of doing things and Valve should stop. 30% is too much for essentially being a store front. This isn't like retail where they are investing money and shelf space.

Valve should charge 5% for any and all PC exclusive titles or for as long as titles remain PC exclusive, and 15% for anything else. They should provide server based services like Microsoft does for a reasonable fee. This gets developers and publishers more interested in working with the platform as a whole and with Steam in particular.

 

[Zoned]

True, I'm just saying that with Crysis 2 and DA2, those games were pulled from Steam after a point when they were still fairly new. And the mandatory install of Origin for BF3 happened well in advance of BF3 being released.

With Ubi and them jumping ship from Steam, this isn't happening months in advance of their big flagship games coming out. It's happening less than a week before AC and less than 2 weeks for Far Cry. That just seems kind of odd.

Yeah what you are saying makes sense.

Considering that they have removed all pre order listings, it's pretty clear that we won't be seeing any Ubisoft title on Steam from now on.

Too bad I wanted to far cry 4, but now no intention of doing that.

 

[epmode]

Not necessarily. Very tough to say what those other agreements may be.

Developers occasionally confirm the cut. Find me a single dev admitting that a PC DD store takes less than 30% per purchase. I don't think you'll find anything.

 

[Rapstah]

That steamdb site linked to above is showing a lot of Far Cry 4 being re-added and then removed again. Is that some type of sync issue?

 

[Nirolak]

Not necessarily. Very tough to say what those other agreements may be.

EA seemed most upset about having to give up DLC/microtransaction revenue beyond just the base game, since they make a lot on that.

They left when the Steam policy extended to require DLC to be sold through Steam.

 

[Nzyme32]

Is it piracy if i buy a legit copy of the game, but then download a cracked version and play that so i can avoid all this uplay bs?

The answer to this question is a big fat question mark

 

[The_Monk]

This is indeed a shame. I like to have all things minimal everywhere and on PC is no exception. Right now I already have Steam installed, Origin and Uplay. GoG will also have their own client soon but it will be optional. 3 Clients is already too much for me to be honest. I really dislike having this clutter and I wish I could have just one simple client for all my PC games but instead people are getting more and more of these.

It seems that it's also only a matter of time before other companies push their own client in the future and if it reaches that point you will have your PC filled with clients. And that is something I refuse to accept. I often play Ubisoft games on my console since it's less work around, last game was Child of Light since I see no vantage in having it on PC instead of console but like I mentioned, more and more clients on my PC is something I do not want.

 

[Valnen]

Not really. It's the most profitable move for them. Makes perfect sense.

Not if people don't buy their games it isn't. That chances of me buying their PC games just went from "maybe on a good sale" to "never".

 

[BlackBuzzard]

The answer to this question is a big fat question mark

The fact that legit buyers have to jump through more hoops then a pirate is ridiculous.

 

[eznark]

It gets worse, Assassin’s Creed III is still on there.

That is just flat out evil from Ubisoft.

lol

 

[THRILLH0]

Please Don't Tell me Uplay is going to be another service like Origin and Steam.

Oh the inconvenience!

 

[Nzyme32]

That steamdb site linked to above is showing a lot of Far Cry 4 being re-added and then removed again. Is that some type of sync issue?

Yes, the same happens with a lot of removed games for a day or so. Must be a logistical thing or something. But not knowing the situation, could be anything

 

[TheOohChild]

Don't really mind Uplay. Not a big deal to me at all.

 

[CosmicQueso]

EA seemed most upset about having to give up DLC/microtransaction revenue beyond just the base game, since they make a lot on that.

They left when the Steam policy extended to require DLC to be sold through Steam.

Good point. Awful tough to put a value on gaining control.

For Steam sales, pubs can submit a list of potential deals, but never know if or when a particular deal might run.

Running through one's own service eliminates all of that uncertainty on top of the % cut.

 

[JaseC]

EA seemed most upset about having to give up DLC/microtransaction revenue beyond just the base game, since they make a lot on that.

They left when the Steam policy extended to require DLC to be sold through Steam.

Required that DLC for future releases be sold through Steam. The policy wasn't retroactive and thus didn't apply to the two games EA pulled.

 

[Muppet of a Man]

Games as a service, Publishers as an ecosystem. Get used to this upcoming clusterfuck of a mindset.

 

[Forsythia]

I don't blame Ubi for wanting more money, but I doubt this is the way to do it.

 

[Zoned]

And it won't be the last.



Not really. It's the most profitable move for them. Makes perfect sense.

EA has battlefield, Ubisoft ain't got much to offer.

 

[Vigilant Walrus]

but I already pre-ordered the game on Steam? what now? will I get a refund?

 

[epmode]

Games as a service, Publishers as an ecosystem. Get used to this upcoming clusterfuck of a mindset.

I fully expect Square to jump on this next.

 

[Gorillaz]

It gets worse, Assassin’s Creed III is still on there.

That is just flat out evil from Ubisoft.

so vulgar

 

[derExperte]

They left when the Steam policy extended to require DLC to be sold through Steam.

Is that even the case or just an excuse from EA? Because some games offer in-game purchases that don't go through Steam.

 

[JaseC]

but I already pre-ordered the game on Steam? what now? will I get a refund?

Even assuming Ubi has left Steam, you're not going to lose your games.

 

[BlackBuzzard]

I fully expect Square to jump on this next.

Square eco system "crickets"