Ubisoft confirmed earlier this month that it would be decommissioning the online services of many of its older but still very popular titles.
One of those games, Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD, has prompted significant controversy after gamers discovered that the game had been de-listed from Steam and is no longer available for purchase. Worse was a warning that suggested the game wouldn’t be available to play in a few months, even for those who already owned a copy: “this title will not be accessible following September 1, 2022,” a second notice reads.
Ubisoft is making a precedent on Steam as Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD will not be accessible following September 1st, 2022. Even if you already bought it, a bar new low for consumers. pic.twitter.com/hRmmb2yM3w
— Nors3.eth (@Nors3) July 10, 2022
Ubisoft has now clarified in a statement that Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD’s DLCs and online features will be the only components affected by the decommissioning, which is set to occur on September 1, 2022. Owners of the game will still be able to play and re-download them.
As stated in our support article, only DLCs and online features will be affected by the upcoming decommissioning. Current owners of those games will still be able to access, play or redownload them. Our teams are working with our partners to update this information across all storefronts and are also assessing all available options for players who will be impacted when these games’ online services are decommissioned on September 1st, 2022. It has always been our intention to do everything in our power to allow those legacy titles to remain available in the best possible conditions for players, and this is what we are working towards.
IGN, which shared the statement, had pointed out that Ubisoft removing access to Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD could have set an awful precedent.
This version of Liberation – which is an HD port of the original PlayStation Vita game – is also accessible for free with Assassin’s Creed 3, but this costs $39.99, and users who have bought and paid for the original version would essentially have to buy it again.
Removing access to a game customers have paid for without at least offering refunds is relatively unheard of on Steam, though it appears that Ubisoft will set that precedent with Liberation HD.
Not to be confused with Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation, Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD is an in-universe counterpart to the third mainline title of the series that follows Aveline de Grandpré, the daughter of wealthy French merchant Philippe de Grandpré. The game takes place across various locations that range from New Orleans to ancient Mayan ruins.
The year is 1765. As the events leading up to the American Revolution heat up in the north, Spanish forces plan to take control of Louisiana in the south – but they have yet to reckon with Aveline, a deadly Assassin who will use every weapon and ability in her arsenal on her quest for freedom. Whether eliminating her enemies with her multiple assassinations technique or luring them into deadly traps using her tools, Aveline strikes mortal fear into the hearts of those who stand in her way.
Assassin’s Creed Liberation HD has returned to the Steam store with an updated notice that can confirm the base game will remain playable after September 1, 2022.
Source: IGN