Assassin’s Creed 4 Black Flag came in the eye of the storm recently when it was discovered that some single-player content from the game was inaccessible to those who didn’t own the game’s Uplay Passport. This feature which is usually meant to restrict second-hand gamers from accessing multiplayer content so that they are forced purchase such passes was for the first time used in single-player mode, thus angering a large number of gamers.
Ubisoft has now listened to these people, and has delivered something unexpected. Apart from announcing that all Assassin’s Creed 4 Black Flag players will be able to download the Uplay Passport free of cost through PSN and Xbox Live, the company has also revealed that no other games published by it will have such restrictions in the future. This is a big step, but it’s not something new to the industry. Following gamer backlash on a number of its ‘unfair practices,’ EA too decided to abolish its online passes earlier this year.
As for those who’ve already purchased the Uplay Passport for Assassin’s Creed 4 Black Flag, they have been asked by Ubisoft to approach customer support to inquire about refunds. The newest entry to the franchise is out now for the PS3 and Xbox 360, complete with its exciting pirate-themed offerings. And while it’s launched for the Wii U in North America, it will be released for the said platform in the UK next month, along with its PS4, Xbox One and PC versions.
Ubisoft has made a bold move by abolishing its Uplay Passport system, and fans of Assassin’s Creed 4 Black Flag are its first beneficiaries, as they can now access the game’s online aspects free of cost.