Friday, November 15th 2024

Assassin's Creed Shadows Animus Hub Rumors Quashed As Ubisoft Breaks Silence, Denies Paid Battle Pass Allegations

Assassin's Creed Shadows is seemingly not out of hot water with gamers just yet, although this time, the flak seems to have been mostly unwarranted. Earlier this week, rumors popped up on Reddit claiming to reveal the Assassin's Creed Shadows Animus Hub, which was supposedly the upcoming RPG's dedicated launcher, and a host of in-game season passes and rewards. The leak purports to detail the first free battle pass, which is referred to as "Eye in the Dark" and will consist of 20 reward tiers. Completing the battle pass allegedly rewards 9,050 Isu coins, which can be used to purchase various cosmetics in the form of character, weapon, and mount customization options. Somewhat comically, there appear to be in-game collaborations with the likes of VISA, Red Bull, Intel, BAPE Clothing and Sprecher, although how these will play out in the game is a mystery. This news made quite a stir when it was first announced, since Ubisoft was very clear when it confirmed the game's delay last month that there would be no season passes in Assassin's Creed Shadows.

As it turns out, though, the rumors were kicking up enough speculation about the return of paid subscriptions, battle passes, and season passes that Ubisoft took to its official Discord server to address the rumors directly. Although Ubisoft confirmed that the Animus Hub is a piece of software it has been working on, all the content and rewards offered in the Animus Hub will be free content. Ubisoft was, however, careful with its words, not denying the existence of season passes and battle passes, instead only commenting that those passes will not be paid. Additionally, Ubisoft confirmed that there will be additional in-game content available for free in the Animus Hub.
In Ubisoft's own words:
It has come to our attention that inaccurate rumors have been circulating online regarding the upcoming Animus Hub (codename Infinity). We wanted to take this occasion to clarify that:
  • All the rewards available in the Animus Hub will be entirely free.
  • There are no paid subscriptions or paid battle pass featured in the Animus Hub.
  • Players will have access to regular content & missions at no extra cost.
We will unveil more details about it closer to the launch of Assassin's Creed Shadows. Thank you!
One can't help but wonder what the purpose of the Animus Hub is if Ubisoft doesn't intend to use it as a monetization vehicle, although there seem to be rewards available in the Animus Hub that are purchased with in-game currency. The full list of cosmetics and assets seemingly available via the Animus Hub can be seen in the Reddit post detailing the leak, however the images in the Imgur album have since been removed by Ubisoft via a DMCA takedown. The only two remaining images available from the Reddit post are embedded above, and they depict Yasuke in the Animus Hub and the design on the Isu coins.
Sources: r/gamingleaks on Reddit, Ubisoft on DIscord
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32 Comments on Assassin's Creed Shadows Animus Hub Rumors Quashed As Ubisoft Breaks Silence, Denies Paid Battle Pass Allegations

#26
lexluthermiester
the54thvoidOf note, I'm playing Outlaws now, and it's got a decent Star Wars vibe - it didn't deserve the crap it got. Most games bore me these days though - I think we're all getting jaded with them. At least Outlaws is a reasonable time filler.
You're the second person who's said this. The other person said they liked it a lot.
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#27
Draconis
the54thvoidMost games bore me these days though - I think we're all getting jaded with them
I find as I get older I feel this way about most content. Games, movies, books etc. It gets more difficult as time goes on to find something truly fresh and appealing.

Edit: Spelling
Posted on Reply
#28
Vayra86
the54thvoidOf note, I'm playing Outlaws now, and it's got a decent Star Wars vibe - it didn't deserve the crap it got. Most games bore me these days though - I think we're all getting jaded with them. At least Outlaws is a reasonable time filler. I think that's how I grade games these days - time filler, or uninstall fodder.
Yeah I try to shoot for a better experience. Avoiding the triple A fare opened that up to me; I keep saying this but honestly, there are lots of mindblowing, original or just great in execution- type games coming out all the time.

'the franchise' and the setting in the well known franchises frankly isnt all that. Of course its not going to surprise you as you are actively seeking boredom you already knew. Perhaps its time to evaluate why you play those games. If the setting is huge to you, I totally get it.. but otherwise, why bother?
DraconisI find as I get older I feel this way about most content. Games, movies, books etc. It gets more difficult as time goes on to find something truly fresh and appealing.

Edit: Spelling
I do recognize that, but thats not related to the content nearly as much as your own mindset. There is always new stuff to discover and thats kinda what Im trying to say in the previous bit too; readjust and evaluate why you play or used to play games. Not just on the level of 'what kind of games do I like most' based on what you always played... But rather: What made it tick? I figured out for me its the sense of discovery. The element of surprise. The exploration of new ways to implement a known concept.

Good examples of games that really ticked those boxes recently are:

Noita (over the top build your ultimate Mage physics driven roguelike platformer)

Rogue Trader (CRPG meets XCOM meets Warhammer40K lore)

Ghostof Tsushima (Ubisoft open world formula meets fantastic combat and authenticity in lore)

Thronefall (simple Scripted town builder meets tower defense meets roguelike talent/perk unlocks)

Its easy to lose your way though in the endless stream of releases... it takes discipline to take time to learn a new game with new approaches to known concepts.
Posted on Reply
#29
Draconis
Vayra86I do recognize that, but thats not related to the content nearly as much as your own mindset. There is always new stuff to discover and thats kinda what Im trying to say in the previous bit too; readjust and evaluate why you play or used to play games.
Fair point. Maybe it's an age thing but even the well done new takes on old concepts is getting "old" for me. BTW, I still play, and read, watch etc. I've been playing since the Atari days where you spooled the game off a tape cassette.

Thanks for the list of games, XCOM is one of my favourite games of all time. I still have the boxes of XCOM 1 and XCOM 2 - Terror in the Deep.
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#30
Vayra86
DraconisFair point. Maybe it's an age thing but even the well done new takes on old concepts is getting "old" for me. BTW, I still play, and read, watch etc. I've been playing since the Atari days where you spooled the game off a tape cassette.

Thanks for the list of games, XCOM is one of my favourite games of all time. I still have the boxes of XCOM 1 and XCOM 2 - Terror in the Deep.
Yeah I feel ya. It does get progressively harder to really get the wow effect
Posted on Reply
#31
lexluthermiester
DraconisThanks for the list of games, XCOM is one of my favourite games of all time. I still have the boxes of XCOM 1 and XCOM 2 - Terror in the Deep.
GOG for those. They have the best and most complete versions!
Vayra86Yeah I feel ya. It does get progressively harder to really get the wow effect
I've stopped looking for games(or tv, movies & music) that "Wow's" me. Instead, I look for things that are enjoyable and fun. Until someone creates a real "Holodeck", the age of being presented with things that will "Wow" us is gone. Good times indeed! But they are mostly over.
Posted on Reply
#32
Draconis
lexluthermiesterGOG for those. They have the best and most complete versions!
Thanks
lexluthermiesterI've stopped looking for games(or tv, movies & music) that "Wow's" me. Instead, I look for things that are enjoyable and fun.
That's a good way to look at it.
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