Ubisoft faced backlash after players discovered hidden advertisements in the middle of Assassin's Creed loading screens. The studio claimed it was a 'technical error' and not intentional. This incident raises concerns about the possibility of ads becoming a common feature in console gaming. While this model could generate more revenue for developers, it may not be well-received by all players. Ubisoft responded to the controversy, stating that the ads were a mistake and had been fixed. This practice of inserting ads into paid content is not new, with examples like Samsung and Sony TVs displaying hidden ads in their app lists. While the inclusion of ads in games may not be surprising, players are unlikely to accept it without resistance.
In a separate development, the founder of the Stop Killing Games campaign, Ross Scott, believes that the UK Government's response to their petition may have exposed a potential consumer rights breach by Ubisoft. Last year, Ubisoft announced the shutdown of the servers for their game 'The Crew' in April, rendering the game unplayable. The Stop Killing Games campaign aims to demand that game publishers keep their games in a working state even after support ends. The UK Government's response stated that game sellers must comply with UK consumer law and provide clear information and continued access to games. However, the response also clarified that there is currently no requirement in UK law compelling software companies to support older versions of their products. Ross Scott argues that the response misses the point and fails to address the issue of games becoming inoperable after support ends. He believes that game publishers should be transparent about when a game will cease functioning. Scott hopes that the response will provide ammunition for future actions to protect consumer rights in the gaming industry. [ebb3d703] [ce9b8dbc]