Several rumors, launched by blogs and Anglo-Saxon journalists, affirm that Microsoft could soon announce the arrival of the Ubisoft + catalog in the Xbox Game Pass. A considerable addition that would complete an already dithyrambic offer. But is it really possible? Here are our arguments “for” and “against”. And above all, our hypothesis!
Some of these games may be coming to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate soon.
The Xbox Game Pass offer, especially the Ultimate plan, is clearly the best video game subscription right now. For 10 euros per month, you have access to over 100 games available on demand, including Microsoft Game Studios titles on launch day. And if you add 3 euros, you also have Xbox Live Gold (and the games offered with), access to xCloud (which works particularly well) and all the titles EA Play, which were added only a few weeks ago.
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Xbox Game Pass Ultimate is clearly the best gaming bliss box. And she will certainly get richer in the near future. However, if you look carefully at the catalog of games available, you will find very few games from Ubi Soft. Rainbow Six Siege is the only one that we came across among the major licenses. NoAssassin’s Creed or from Watch Dogs. No Ghost recon or from The Division. Not far cry or from South Park. In short. Not much.
Ubisoft + coming soon to Game Pass Ultimate?
However, several insistent rumors affirm in recent days that Ubisoft could make a sensational entry into Xbox Game Pass. You will find in source link one of the blogs which evoke this possibility. And you will find below the tweet of the Windows Central journalist in charge of Xbox news (and who certainly has some internal contacts at Microsoft). But there are many other reporters of these rumors.
I’ve seen rumors about Ubisoft Uplay + joining Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
I think this has a strong chance of being true, based on stuff I’ve heard.
– Jez (@JezCorden) December 30, 2020
According to these rumors, Microsoft could therefore sign a partnership with the French publisher to integrate Ubisoft + into the Xbox Game Pass. Just that. As a reminder, Ubisoft +, formerly Uplay +, is an “all-you-can-play” type subscription, like Xbox Game Pass or EA Play. You play all the games offered in the catalog as much as you want (until the game is no longer available there). The price is 15 euros per month (i.e. more expensive than the Ultimate Pass). And it allows you to play a hundred games on PC or on Stadia, thanks to a recent partnership between Ubisoft and Google.
Arguments for and arguments against
Should we believe these rumors? We have arguments “for” and arguments “against”. Let’s start with the “pros”. It is quite possible that Microsoft wants to add more content to its Game Pass Ultimate offering, at the risk of increasing the price a little. It is obvious that the strong licenses of Ubisoft would be a considerable advantage, after adding those of EA Play (Battlefield, FIFA, Star Wars, Sims, Crysis, Dead Space, etc.). This would allow Microsoft to strengthen the attractiveness of its offer, and, by extension, that of its pair of consoles.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate already has a huge catalog, with EAPlay
Ubisoft could also benefit from the integration of its games into Xbox Game Pass, particularly in terms of visibility and monetization of its catalog bottom. Like Electronic Arts, Ubisoft could revive the interest of console players in its slightly older titles. We think about the first Watch Dogs for example, or to certain Assassin’s Creed opus, such as Syndicate, Unity or even Origins.
Here are the arguments “against”. First of all, there is a question of cost. Ubisoft + costs 15 euros, while the price of the Xbox Game Pass is 13 euros. Xbox gamers would therefore pay less for more. The problem does not arise with EAPlay: the Electronic Arts subscription costs only 4 euros per month. Additionally, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate works just as well on console as it does on PC. There is therefore a risk that the Ubisoft + subscription will be swallowed up by the Xbox Game Pass.
It’s possible if Ubisoft chooses what it wants to bring
How to reconcile the two points of view? By adopting a strategy similar to that of Electronic Arts. Ubisoft could agree to join Xbox Game Pass Ultimate with a hybrid strategy, by choosing services and games. Explanations. Ubisoft might not entrust the latest novelties in its catalog (like Valhalla, for example) to Game Pass. The publisher could thus reserve them for holders of their own subscription, who can play on PC, on Stadia, with the DLC. On the Xbox Game Pass, you would find recent games (but not too many), the new ones being reserved for purchase.
Another possible option is that you could only play Ubisoft titles on console, but on PC. And you wouldn’t be able to play on xCloud either. Games in the EAPlay catalog are also subject to these two restrictions. So you have two almost complementary offers : Xbox Game Pass, with old games and console access (without cloud gaming); and Ubisoft +, with the entire catalog (including new products), DLCs, PC and cloud access thanks to Stadia.
So that’s our hypothesis. What do you think ? What’s yours ? Do not hesitate to share with us in the comments your opinion on this rumor.
Source: Xboxworlds
