Ubisoft recently announced a major overhaul of their subscription services, introducing two new tiers called Ubisoft+ Premium and Ubisoft+ Classics. These changes aim to provide more options and value for gamers while furthering Ubisoft’s transition towards a games-as-a-service model.
Ubisoft+ Premium Offers Day One Releases
The new Ubisoft+ Premium tier will include all benefits of the existing Ubisoft+ service, including access to over 100 Ubisoft games on PC and cloud platforms, as well as new releases from Ubisoft the day they launch.
Ubisoft+ Premium builds on the Ubisoft+ service first introduced in 2019. Up until now, subscribers would gain access to Ubisoft’s catalog of games but would need to purchase new releases separately. With Premium, all new Ubisoft games are included on day one such as the upcoming Assassin’s Creed Mirage and Skull and Bones.
This positions Ubisoft+ Premium as a more competitive offering compared to other industry subscription services like Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus, and EA Play, which typically do not include major new releases the day they launch.
Ubisoft+ Premium will be available across PC, cloud platforms, and consoles. Pricing is set at $17.99 per month.
Ubisoft Classics Introduced for PC
In addition to Ubisoft+ Premium, Ubisoft has introduced a new Ubisoft+ Classics subscription tier exclusively for Windows PC.
Ubisoft+ Classics provides access to select classic Ubisoft titles such as the Prince of Persia series, early Assassin’s Creed games, and various Anno and Might & Magic titles. In total over 50 classic games are included.
Ubisoft+ Classics is priced at $9.99 per month, providing a lower cost option for PC gamers interested in Ubisoft’s back catalog.
| Ubisoft+ | Ubisoft+ Premium | Ubisoft+ Classics |
|---|---|---|
| 100+ Ubisoft games | 100+ Ubisoft games | 50+ classic Ubisoft games (PC only) |
| New releases sold separately | Includes new releases | No new releases |
| $14.99 per month | $17.99 per month | $9.99 per month |
| PC and cloud | PC, cloud, and consoles | PC only |
Emphasis on Transitioning Gamers to Subscriptions Over Game Ownership
The dual subscription tiers also indicate Ubisoft’s strategic emphasis towards transitioning gamers into a subscription mindset rather than relying on one-time game purchases.
In an interview, Ubisoft’s VP of Subscriber Growth stated:
“More and more players are understanding the value, and [Game Pass] has started to make subscription gaming more mainstream…There’s still a huge portion of players who are either used to purchasing their content or feeling uncomfortable not ‘owning’ their content.”
The Ubisoft executive indicates that subscriptions currently only appeal to a subset of the overall gaming market, and that shifting expectations around game ownership remains an obstacle.
Introducing more flexible subscription tiers like Ubisoft+ Classics aims to make subscriptions more approachable and drive further adoption.
Meanwhile, Ubisoft+ Premium reflects Ubisoft’s intent to make subscriptions the default for accessing major new releases rather than one-time purchases. This follows similar trends across the industry, as seen with annualized subscription releases like FIFA and Call of Duty, as publishers focus on recurring player investment.
What Changes Can Gamers Expect?
For current and prospective Ubisoft subscribers, the new tiers introduce more options to suit different budgets and platform needs:
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Ubisoft+ Premium – For $17.99 per month, console and cloud gamers gain access to Ubisoft’s full catalog and all new releases on day one. This offers exceptional value compared to purchasing these games individually. Premium also provides the best value for Ubisoft fans on PC who want immediate access to new releases.
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Ubisoft+ Classics – At $9.99 per month, this new budget tier grants PC gamers access to Ubisoft’s classic back catalog. This provides an affordable way for PC gamers to experience iconic Ubisoft franchises without investing in newer titles.
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Ubisoft+ Base Tier – The existing $14.99 per month Ubisoft+ service will be retained as the base tier. It offers broad access to Ubisoft games on PC and cloud platforms, but new releases are sold separately. This middle tier provides decent value for more casual Ubisoft fans on PC.
Meanwhile, for Ubisoft’s wider business, these subscription tiers will provide crucial data on gamer willingness to embrace subscription models on different platforms and at different price points.
Strong uptake of Premium in particular will validate Ubisoft’s strategic bet towards making subscriptions and games-as-a-service the norm for major new releases in the years ahead.
The long-term impacts remain to be seen, but subscriptions undeniably represent the future, granting publishers like Ubisoft recurring revenue while gamers trade outright ownership for affordable, convenient access to evolving game catalogs.
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