Fans of Ubisoft's players reward program Uplay could see that program replaced with something new, at least if that's what Ubisoft plans for its newly-announced Ubisoft Club program.
Ubisoft announced the new Club program today with a video on its Uplay video channel, which certainly makes it seem as if Club could be the new Uplay. It's also basically the same concept: a cross-platform service that players subscribe to that lets them earn badges, experience and Ubisoft currency while playing any games published by the company. Gathering these things via gameplay opens up certain rewards.
"In 2015, Ubisoft levels up its reward program and creates the Ubisoft Club," announces the video introducing the new program. "While playing Ubisoft games, you can now get access to XP, badges and units."
The video also mentions that the club is not limited to any particular game or platform and promises that players can use rewards to get extra in-game content, beta participation, limited edition goodies and Ubisoft store discounts.
The Ubisoft Club website allows gamers to go ahead and join Ubisoft Club by using their Uplay account, further suggesting that Ubisoft Club is a replacement. If it isn't, it's certain to confuse gamers signed up to both services.
The website also states that users without Uplay accounts must create a Uplay account to join the Club, which, again, seems confusing if this isn't a substitute program.
Ubisoft desperately wants its rewards program to work for gamers, but many have already deemed Uplay a failure. Uplay suffers from a serious image problem, which would explain why the company plans on possibly rebranding it as "Ubisoft Club." When the publisher's Watch Dogs title released last year, Uplay error messages dogged gamers as they attempted to get into the game, and that bad experience stayed with players and made many players think that Uplay was a DRM-system instead of a rewards program, although the problem lay with the game's authentication for its always-on multiplayer mode.
"When we ask players to create a Uplay account, that's not DRM — that's just so we can give you units," said Ubisoft vice president of digital publishing Chris Early to Gamasutra. "That's where the confusion comes in."
Even players who understand what Uplay is still don't like it: starting up a Ubisoft game means that there's always a prompt to sign in to Uplay whether you want it there or not.
It's likely that Ubisoft is pushing its new Club program this week, thanks to the release of Assassin's Creed Syndicate on Oct. 23.
Update: Ubisoft sent Tech Times the following statement via email confirming that Ubisoft Club replaces Uplay Win.
Ubisoft Club replaces Uplay Win as the free single platform that rewards our players. Uplay remains the account that enable players to access all Ubisoft services such as forums, customer support, Uplay shop, Uplay PC and Ubisoft Club. Rewards already earned in Uplay Win will automatically be transferred to Ubisoft Club. Ubisoft Club also creates XP/Levels and Badges to enhance the game experience.
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