Ubisoft Blames 'Technical Error' For Showing Pop-up Ads in Assassin's Creed (theverge.com) 38
Ubisoft is blaming an unspecified "technical error" for a fullscreen pop-up ad that appeared in Assassin's Creed Odyssey this week. From a report: Reddit users say they spotted the pop-up on Xbox and PlayStation versions of the game, with an ad appearing just when you navigate to the map screen. "This is disgusting to experience while playing," remarked one Reddit user, summarizing the general feeling against such pop-ups in the middle of gameplay. "We have been made aware that some players encountered pop-up ads while playing certain Assassin's Creed titles yesterday," says Ubisoft spokesperson Fabien Darrigues, in a statement to The Verge. "This was the result of a technical error that we addressed as soon as we learned of the issue."
Wasnt a tech issue (Score:4, Insightful)
Which if anyone has purchase a UbiSoft game in the last 10 years fucking deserves.
Re:Wasnt a tech issue (Score:5, Interesting)
It was a test to see how reamed they would get.
I wouldn't call it a test, never blame malice for what can easily be explained by stupidity. I'm guessing someone turned this on before it was intended.
However the point is the same... The functionality is there, it just isn't being used... Yet.
Which if anyone has purchase a UbiSoft game in the last 10 years fucking deserves.
Couldn't agree more, I haven't bought a Ubisoft game since they tried that Uplay shit, which I believe is more or less dead and they've gone back to Steam.
Re: (Score:3)
Couldn't agree more, I haven't bought a Ubisoft game since they tried that Uplay shit, which I believe is more or less dead and they've gone back to Steam.
It is still around. They use Steam like EA does now. It is just a store front. You still are required to install their malware if you want to play their games.
Re: (Score:2)
Couldn't agree more, I haven't bought a Ubisoft game since they tried that Uplay shit, which I believe is more or less dead and they've gone back to Steam.
It is still around. They use Steam like EA does now. It is just a store front. You still are required to install their malware if you want to play their games.
Indeed. Which is why I do not.
Re: (Score:2)
i will never understand the point of having all these launchers/storefronts embedded in another launcher (steam => rockstar's garbage, EA's garbage, etc etc)
it's just.. stupid and absolutely fucking pointless. if i wanted to use your garbage launcher/storefront I would. but no, i'm using steam. can you kindly fuck off? thanks
what's worse is when they break big screen support. yes the game supports a controller, and i'm sitting in my comfy recliner. But to navigate your janky bullshit i need to grab a mo
Re: (Score:2)
The point? Well that's easy, it's to show you ads for their other games.
Re: Wasnt a tech issue (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I vote with my wallet
I really wish that this actually meant anything to them. People still line up in droves to buy the newest Ass Creed and Far Cry games.
Re: (Score:2)
It does mean something to them - just not enough people care to vote the same way.
Re: (Score:3)
Never blame malice for what can easily be explained by stupidity.
I don't want that. I'm getting a bit tired of stupidity explaining things to me.
Re: (Score:1)
I can attest to this.
Ubisoft games and developers are trash.
technical error likey was how meny ad's / sizeing (Score:2)
technical error likely was how many ad's / sizing of them
When $70 for a game just isn't enough. (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
Yuck! Have some standards, jeeesh!
Re: When $70 for a game just isn't enough. (Score:1, Insightful)
oops! (Score:4)
Yep just your typical completely unexpected c-suite snafu.
You bought an UBIsoft game (Score:2)
In the eternal words of Nelson: HA HA!
One step closer (Score:4, Funny)
To drinking a verification can https://knowyourmeme.com/photo... [knowyourmeme.com]
You'd think someone would test their name (Score:2)
And find out it's hurting sales. I mean, not that changing their name would help any with behavior, but it might help them with sales temporarily.
Re: (Score:2)
More like "greed error" (Score:3)
And they tried it to find out how much more abuse their victims / customers are willing to endure.
Technical Error (Score:5, Insightful)
So they just so happened to accidentally make a function for popping up ads, a system for displaying the ads, a tracking system for the ads - all with a single typo?
Re: (Score:2)
tatclass: YOU ALL SUCK DICK
tatclass: er.
tatclass: hi.
andy\code: A common typo.
tatclass: the keys are like right next to each other.
Re: (Score:2)
Wow, a bash from the past.
"Error" (Score:2)
The only error I can see is all the poor folks who bought Ubisoft's latest dumpster fire. Cmon folks milk that cow until it's eyeballs dehydrate! There has to be another nickel in there somewhere!
Fuck this, fuck them. Make them all starve.
Might be it was unintentional... but a test was (Score:5, Insightful)
As much as people might want to apply Hanlon's razor here... In this case, it does not hold water: developing a popup advertising system in-game and tracking requires intention -and in their own eyes, not malice The actual enablement of the feature can easily have been accidental (and that's all that Hanlon's demands), but the truth is that they have been consciously considering all the time.
Let also explore the rationale, after all they are not the only ones embedding ads down our throats (MS Windows, I'm looking at you). So seems sensible that like any modern techno-mining company, they want to expand their value extraction territories by in-game advertising, after all ... "we estimate we can sell up to 80% of an individual's visual field before inducing seizures"...
"Modern" games (Score:2)
But this is not new: Homeworld II traded the great gameplay of Homeworld I for graphics, for example, way way back.
Re: (Score:2)
cataclysm was an awesome HW game, too bad blizzard snagged the cataclysm name ip rights.
I'd love if they remade that, I still sometimes playing the original. Launching a ton of missiles out of your ship as the beast was awesome.
Hmm... one question (Score:2)
Okay, so then why was the code to do this in your game in the first place?
Sorry, update your game and apologize for this nonsense. I hope Ubi loses customers.
unspecified "technical error" (Score:2)
Advertising on consoles sucks (Score:3, Insightful)
I've got an Xbox Series X which I really enjoyed until MS pushed sponsored ads on the home page which you can't hide, there are no options to mark them as objectionable or feedback. I'm vegetarian and seeing a big ad for some murder flesh dog burger from McBurgerJnr or something is sickening to see. It prompted me to not buy the game I was considering on the platform and I'm seriously considering getting rid of the thing. My Windows PC is also about to find itself wiped and I'll switch to Linux as Steam seems to run games on there pretty well thanks to the SteamDeck. At least the ads in Steam are relevant I suppose but ads are toxic anywhere, I should just read a book. Advertising is destroying entertainment.
Re: (Score:2)
"I'm vegetarian and seeing a big ad for some murder flesh dog burger from McBurgerJnr or something is sickening to see"
You might have to lighten up a bit. Not about the ads on the front page of your console menu... that I get.
But ads for hamburgers? Seems like a silly thing to get upset about. I'm a straight male, right down the middle, No grey zone. Basically vanilla. But I don't boycott shows if two guys kiss.
Even excluding vegan tendencies (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
I couldn't agree more, I hate ads but steam ads are relevant because I'm always looking for good cheap games. One word of advice: switch to Linux for gaming sooner rather than later. I made the switch earlier this year (from Windows 7, was absolutely NOT interested in anything newer from them) and I have to say my mind is still blown by just how fucking good gaming on Linux is. I really haven't come across a game that I couldn't get running yet. I hear the ones that don't run are the ones that install kerne
How the hell... (Score:2)
...did the cat escape the bag? I thought we had it tightly cinched.
How? (Score:2)
How does something like creating the ability to insert ads into gameplay happen through a "technical error"?
Somehow, I think they may be in "technical error" of the truth.
Well... (Score:2)
unspecified "technical error"
I will agree, it was technically an error.