Ubisoft has reaffirmed its commitment to microtransactions, describing them not only as part of its business model, but also as a way to make games “more fun”. However, this stance has drawn criticism from both players and the media due to the inclusion of features such as paid XP boosters in its single-player titles.
Paying more and less consciously is fun, apparently
Despite the controversies, the study has achieved significant financial successes with its recent releases in the Assassin’s Creed series, such as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and Assassin’s Creed Shadows. In its latest annual report, Ubisoft reiterated its intention to continue implementing microtransactions in full-price games, highlighting its desire to “respect the player experience” and resort to “sustainable” monetization.
The report highlights what seems to be an attempt to balance integrating microtransactions into the company’s financial strategy while assuring players that these practices will not be abused. It is mentioned that “the golden rule when developing premium games is to allow players to enjoy the game in its entirety without the need to spend more.” However, this statement contrasts with the idea that microtransactions can enhance the player experience by allowing for avatar customization or faster progression.
By allowing players to purchase progression upgrades, Ubisoft exposes itself to criticism regarding game design that could favor a payment system prioritizing transactions over the free gaming experience. On another note, the company also addressed the Stop Killing Games movement in an official statement, in response to condemnations from former executives regarding workplace harassment that occurred in July.
