In a surprising move, Ubisoft has announced a giveaway of 13 of its games for Xbox users, but this initiative comes with notable limitations. While Xbox’s first-party titles allow players to enjoy their games across both Xbox consoles and PC through the Play Anywhere program, many third-party games, including those from Ubisoft, do not share this cross-buy feature.
Ubisoft’s Generous Offer
As detailed on Xbox’s website, Ubisoft is now granting users who have previously purchased digital versions of select games on Xbox consoles the opportunity to play these titles on PC at no additional cost. This marks a significant shift from the previous requirement to buy games separately for each platform. However, this offer is limited to a specific selection of 13 titles, which include popular franchises such as Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Prince of Persia.
- Assassin’s Creed Mirage
- Assassin’s Creed Valhalla
- Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora
- Far Cry 6
- Immortals Fenyx Rising
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
- Riders Republic
- Skull and Bones
- The Crew 2
- The Crew Motorfest
- Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Extraction
- Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege
- Watch Dogs Legion
However, the catch lies in the fact that players will not be able to access these games through the Xbox App for PC. Instead, users must download them via Ubisoft Connect, the publisher’s own PC launcher. This limitation is particularly disappointing, as it excludes these titles from the Xbox Play Anywhere lineup and omits features such as achievements that are typically available within the Xbox ecosystem. Many PC gamers have expressed dissatisfaction with Ubisoft Connect, often favoring platforms like Steam or the Xbox App for their superior user experience.
Moreover, Ubisoft has clarified that this arrangement does not work in reverse. For instance, if a player owns Assassin’s Creed Valhalla on PC through Ubisoft Connect, they will not be able to obtain a digital copy for Xbox consoles. While this outcome may not come as a shock, it still adds to the overall disappointment surrounding the announcement.
Critics argue that if Ubisoft truly aimed to excite Xbox users, it would have made these games compatible with the Play Anywhere initiative. Such a move would not only have expanded the catalog of cross-buy titles but also aligned with Xbox’s ongoing commitment to enhancing cross-platform gameplay. Instead, this strategy appears to be more focused on driving traffic to Ubisoft Connect, a tactic that may not yield the desired results.
