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Ubisoft is trying to wipe out (secondary market) key reselling with 'silent key activation' (PC Gamer) Ubisoft has teamed up with digital distribution firm Genba Digital to change its method of selling PC games through third-party stores like Fanatical and Games Republic. The new process is called 'silent key activation' and activates games on platforms like Steam and Uplay automatically rather than giving out codes to retailers and customers. From now on, Ubisoft will only sell games through sites that use SKA. This process already exists for Ubisoft titles sold through Green Man Gaming. If you buy a Ubisoft title at GMG, you don't receive a key - you're immediately asked to activate the game on your Uplay account.

Ubisoft is giving you the ability to download (forever) the second to worst game in the Assassins Creed series via Uplay on PC for the next week. Link

On a whim a few days ago, I decided to see if it would be possible to convert some of the physical PC games that I still have CD/DVD keys for into digital versions in the clients of their respective publishers. The games that I was looking to "digitize" were Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory (Ubisoft), Crysis (EA), Crysis: Warhead (EA), and Command & Conquer Generals/Zero Hour (EA). Because I still had the original packaging and manuals with the keys, I figured that I had the best chance to digitize these games out of my remaining physical collection. I first contacted Ubisoft and explained to them what I wanted to do and that I still had all the original materials and the CD authentication key for Chaos Theory. Reasonably, they asked me to send them pictures of the packaging, the manual, and the CD authentication key which I did without hesitation. After sending them the pictures, they responded that the authentication key was from a period prior to the implementation of Uplay and that it couldn't be integrated into the Uplay system to generate a digital copy of the game for my Uplay account library. I responded that I totally understood this, however as someone who clearly owns a physical copy of the game, that they would add Chaos Theory to my Uplay library as a customer service gesture. While I waited for Ubisoft to respond to my request, I went ahead and contacted EA to see if I could add the three games I mentioned to my Origin library. I decided to go with the live chat route with EA and told the CSR exactly what I wanted to do. Without hesitation, the Origin CSR asked for the authentication keys that I immediately provided. Within two minutes, the CSR reported that both Crysis and Crysis: Warhead had been added to my Origin account. In addition, because a standalone version of Command & Conquer: Generals/Zero Hour no longer exists, the ENTIRE Command & Conquer Ultimate Collection (17 games in total) had been added to my Origin library. Naturally, I was absolutely pleased with the way the Origin CSR addressed my request and I left a glowing evaluation. Hell, I was so pleased that I bought a couple of games on Origin that were on deep-discounted sale because I actually felt that I "owed" EA something Now, back to Ubisoft. Well, the Ubisoft CSR's response was effectively the dead opposite of that of the Origin CSR. The Ubisoft CSR said that there was no way they could add Chaos Theory to my Uplay account despite the ample documentary evidence that I actually own the game and that they were "sorry for any inconvenience". Of course, this doesn't upset me in the least, but I decided to leave this one little "parting shot" at Ubisoft/Uplay: I appreciate all the time and attention that has been devoted to my request, but I'll admit that I'm somewhat disappointed that Ubisoft/Uplay cannot provide the same level of service that EA/Origin has in adding digital versions of physical games that I provided evidence of ownership for to my Origin game library. Perhaps this is something that Ubisoft should consider going forward to enhance the overall value proposition of Uplay to the end customer. So, that's my little Tale of Two Customer Service Experiences. The moral of the story is essentially this: "EA - crappy games, great customer service"

Teased through Easter Egg in The Division 2: Kotaku's Jason Schreier confirms through his sources at Ubisoft.

Epic announced today that Ubisoft will continue its relationship with the Epic Games Store. Apparently, the publisher was happy with its decision to release The Division 2 on Epic's client (and not Steam), and will be releasing "several" more games that way—though which ones, Epic can't say yet. Ubisoft will announce that in the near future.

Jason with yet another insider scoop!

https://www.polygon.com/2019/1/9/18174375/division-2-pc-epic-games-store-steam

This is Step 1 for the inevitable UbiStream Service

Now they’ve got the basics in place, they’ve pledged to bring the algorithm into open access by the end of the year, so that academics can both use it and help them to improve it. They’re taking the drawing tool and reworking it as a teaching tool for students learning the hieroglyphic script, too.

https://www.vivendi.com/en/press/press-releases/extension-of-the-ubisoft-forward-share-sale-deadline/

Child of Light - October 11, Valiant Hearts - November 8