In a recent development within the gaming community, a video clip from Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has ignited widespread controversy. The clip, shared on Reddit by user triddell24, exposed an unexpected promotional ad for Assassin’s Creed: Mirage surfacing within the game.

This unexpected intrusion has led to a vigorous debate regarding the appropriateness of incorporating advertisements into paid video games. Gamers are now voicing their concerns over this practice, raising questions about the impact on the gaming experience and whether such ads have a place in premium titles.

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Unwelcome interruption in gameplay

According to the video clip posted by Reddit user triddell24, players trying to access the game’s map were unexpectedly interrupted by an Assassin’s Creed Mirage advertisement. This ad, promoting a Black Friday deal with a 20% discount, halted gameplay, offering a prompt to purchase the new title.

Although players could dismiss the ad with a simple button press, its invasive nature has caused significant annoyance. The presence of in-game advertisements is generally frowned upon, but their use in free-to-play games is somewhat more accepted as they serve as a revenue source. However, “Assassin’s Creed Odyssey” is not a free-to-play game; it’s a full-priced title, usually retailing for over $60, making such advertisements feel particularly intrusive and unwarranted.

On the same accord, reports indicate that this was not an isolated incident, as similar advertisements have appeared on the game’s Xbox and PlayStation versions. Additionally, there are claims of similar occurrences in another franchise game, “Assassin’s Creed Origins.”

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These repeated instances point to Ubisoft, the game’s publisher, as the orchestrator of these ads. As a result, the move has understandably upset a large portion of the fanbase, who view it as an inappropriate marketing strategy for a premium game.

Community calls for boycotts and refusals to purchase

The gaming community’s response was swift and severe. Many users on Reddit expressed their dismay, with some pledging to uninstall the game or vowing to avoid future Ubisoft purchases. A user, Saul_Go0dmann, passionately declared a boycott of all Ubisoft games, condemning the intrusion of ads after paying for the game. He argues it’s a double-dipping tactic for extra revenue, deemed entirely unacceptable.

“We have already paid them to “rent” their product, and now they are raising extra funds by throwing ads up. Unacceptable.”

Another user, ChinkyD, shared similar sentiments. Initially interested in buying Odyssey at a discount, they now refuse to spend any money, setting their purchase price at a firm “$0.00.” This widespread discontent reflects a growing concern among gamers about the increasing commercialization of video games, where ads are becoming more intrusive. The backlash further suggests a potential impact on Ubisoft’s reputation and sales, as loyal customers feel betrayed by these unwelcome changes.

Wow, I was considering getting this game at a discount. But now my new rate for purchasing this game is “$0.00.”

Ubisoft’s explanation and action

Following the outcry, the Ubisoft Assasin Creed team addressed the issue on X, stating that the pop-up ads were not intentional but resulted from a technical error. As per the tweet, Ubisoft aimed to feature the Assassin’s Creed Mirage promotion in the main menu of other Assassin’s Creed games.

We have been made aware that some players encountered a pop-up message in-game while playing certain Assassin’s Creed titles yesterday. This was the result of a technical error that has now been fixed.

Our intention was to display a promotion for Assassin’s Creed Mirage as part…

— Assassin’s Creed (@assassinscreed) November 24, 2023

However, the ads appeared in in-game menus instead due to this technical mishap. Ubisoft reassured players that the issue had been promptly fixed, emphasizing their commitment to ensuring the best player experience and removing these disruptive pop-ups.

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• Source: https://metanews.com/fans-backlash-over-unacceptable-in-game-ads-in-assassins-creed/