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

[Cpt.Jank]

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.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[KrazyT]

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.

Yes, it sounds like a joke

 

[Vayra86]

Ubisoft clearly firing on all cylinders to make great games here, I cant wait for this release. Heck Ill pre order two copies after this statement I think.

 

[Why_Me]

This game is DOA.

 

[Vayra86]

This game is DOA.

Given the initial message and the community response, one might even have to conclude Ubisoft's entire gaming business model is DOA now. Season Pass and DLC stream post release is starting to get met with the banhammer - clearly people are fed up buying spoonfed nonsense that shouldn't even be IN the game, and clearly the infinite paid cosmetic bs has also outlived its usefulness.

Ubisoft is scrambling on a portal that can't even be honest about what it is, its like everyone's looking at each other in disgust because we all know what they were planning and Ubisoft isn't smart enough to just pull the plug on all the MTX and make a good game instead that speaks for itself. They're in too deep. They're fucked. What this company needs is executive PR saying they're turning over a new leaf - and then actually supporting that new leaf with products that prove it. Anything else? Ubisoft will soon be for sale.

Now consider the fact Ubisoft was chosen as the partner to make sure Xbox Game Pass wasn't getting too many monopolistic features. Yep. Anyone playing chess knows what's next. MS is already anxiously waiting for this company's demise. And honestly, I'd STILL say 'good riddance'. Perhaps MS, Actiblizz and Ubisoft are perfect for each other. It also makes life easy, I can just skip them all like I always did, except now its one storefront.

 

[JustBenching]

As a gamer that started this hobby back in the 90ies, im super excited about this. I don't know, something about season passes, subscriptions, rewards, animus hubs, reward tiers, extra unlocked cosmetics and weapons get me excited.

 

[the54thvoid]

I'll buy it at £20 in the sales. I enjoyed Odyssey and Valhalla. The others not so much.

 

[Space Lynx]

I'll buy it at £20 in the sales.

same for me, it doesn't take long for these games to go on sale these days, less than a year usually, best to wait for the patches to boot, works out great in that sense

 

[CosmicWanderer]

A day 1 purchase for me.

Previous AC games also got a lot of hate, but I've spent about 140 hours in Valhalla and its expansions. Loved every single minute. Mirage I consider a masterpiece.

This is all just drama for attention, with people complaining about the historical accuracy of a fictional game, with fictional events, and mostly fictional characters.

 

[Waweq]

Just like Playstation denying PSN requirements for STEAM games

 

[Vayra86]

A day 1 purchase for me.

Previous AC games also got a lot of hate, but I've spent about 140 hours in Valhalla and its expansions. Loved every single minute. Mirage I consider a masterpiece.

This is all just drama for attention, with people complaining about the historical accuracy of a fictional game, with fictional events, and mostly fictional characters.

Sure but ghost of tsushima IS likely the better game here. How do you not want to be a real ish Samurai in a game about Samurai? The umpteenth reskin of an AC isnt going to nail that aesthetic and everyone knows it.

Also combat. I think AC never even got close to a real combat system to begin with.

 

[Onasi]

This game is DOA.

I fucking wish for a good new Dead or Alive title, but no, sadly this is Assassin’s Creed. bazinga

 

[JustBenching]

Sure but ghost of tsushima IS likely the better game here. How do you not want to be a real ish Samurai in a game about Samurai? The umpteenth reskin of an AC isnt going to nail that aesthetic and everyone knows it.

Also combat. I think AC never even got close to a real combat system to begin with.

With ghost - i didn't like the game - but the combat was so nice I kept playing till the end. Especially the boss battles, very well made.

 

[Easo]

Sure but ghost of tsushima IS likely the better game here. How do you not want to be a real ish Samurai in a game about Samurai? The umpteenth reskin of an AC isnt going to nail that aesthetic and everyone knows it.

Also combat. I think AC never even got close to a real combat system to begin with.

People have different tastes. Maybe dude really likes open world games and collecting all the billion pins on the map. And this is coming from me who thinks Ubi really screwed up with the latest AC and then dared to act all high and mighty.

 

[Vayra86]

People have different tastes. Maybe dude really likes open world games and collecting all the billion pins on the map. And this is coming from me who thinks Ubi really screwed up with the latest AC and then dared to act all high and mighty.

Thats the thing, GoS is like a carbon copy of AC in almost every way, billion pins included.

 

[CosmicWanderer]

Sure but ghost of tsushima IS likely the better game here. How do you not want to be a real ish Samurai in a game about Samurai? The umpteenth reskin of an AC isnt going to nail that aesthetic and everyone knows it.

Also combat. I think AC never even got close to a real combat system to begin with.

How is this even an argument.

I played Ghost of Tsushima. Does that mean that's it for me? If ever I want to play a Samurai in the future, I must only go back to GoT and not play anything else?

There is room for more than 1 game for people to enjoy.

 

[Frick]

How is this even an argument.

I played Ghost of Tsushima. Does that mean that's it for me? If ever I want to play a Samurai in the future, I must only go back to GoT and not play anything else?

There is room for more than 1 game for people to enjoy.

Someone made the point that AAA games are so similar now that one game is likely enough. Tomb Raider, Far Cry and Assassins Creed were very different games but now? Open world, crafting, stealth, skills. I gather GoT is also like that but like a good example of that.

 

[CosmicWanderer]

Someone made the point that AAA games are so similar now that one game is likely enough. Tomb Raider, Far Cry and Assassins Creed were very different games but now? Open world, crafting, stealth, skills. I gather GoT is also like that but like a good example of that.

That's just sad. Limiting yourself to one game because you think all AAA games are the same.

But, if that's how you like to game, who am I tell you otherwise.

I like trying new things. Yes, some of them might disappoint me, but some of them might surprise me, and some of them might become one of my favorites.

 

[eidairaman1]

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.

Yes, it sounds like a joke

LOZ style

I fucking wish for a good new Dead or Alive title, but no, sadly this is Assassin’s Creed. bazinga

Tecmo has their head in the sand, like capcom, snk playmore...

 

[lexluthermiester]

Given the initial message and the community response, one might even have to conclude Ubisoft's entire gaming business model is DOA now.

The only way Ubisoft is ever going to recover is if they change entirely, fully embrace the GOG/DRMFree ethic and go at it full force. They are otherwise a complete waste of space..

 

[Dixevil]

This game will be cancelled.

 

[Vayra86]

That's just sad. Limiting yourself to one game because you think all AAA games are the same.

But, if that's how you like to game, who am I tell you otherwise.

I like trying new things. Yes, some of them might disappoint me, but some of them might surprise me, and some of them might become one of my favorites.

Nail on the proverbial head. So do I.

Ghosts of Tsushima was refreshing because of the aesthetic and because, while borrowing concepts, it really wants to be its own thing; but an AC with a similar aesthetic won't be doing that, because its an AC before a game centered around the setting. Trying another AC isn't really 'trying new things' though is it? You know what you'll get, its been the same ish thing for decades now. What you're really saying is that you want more of that formula, aren't you? That's not a bad thing, but let's be honest about the content we're looking at. AC exists because it does what it always does, much like Far Cry and almost every other Ubisoft franchise sequel. Same concepts. Different skins.

I don't view skipping AC's as limiting myself anymore. Its a been there done that affair, I've played enough of them. Ubisoft won't change it, they're far too busy figuring out how to shove more seasonal ass content in your face, or sell you an XP boost in a single player game. Its pure horse manure.

The only way Ubisoft is ever going to recover is if they change entirely, fully embrace the GOG/DRMFree ethic and go at it full force. They are otherwise a complete waste of space..

Haha over Guillemot's dead body surely. This is the CEO that told us 30 FPS is enough and the PC is a shithole full of pirates. We don't forget, Yves.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Haha over Guillemot's dead body surely.

Maybe? I wouldn't wish harm on anyone mind you, but he needs to go.

This is the CEO that told us 30 FPS is enough and the PC is a shithole full of pirates.

The guy is not a swift person. Silly statements like that are to be expected from the likes of that kind of mentality.

 

[Vayra86]

Maybe? I wouldn't wish harm on anyone mind you, but he needs to go.

The guy is not a swift person. Silly statements like that are to be expected from the likes of that kind of mentality.

Yeah and that was ten years ago, or at least, somewhere between the overhype of Watch Dogs and its actual release that had 90% of the teaser cut out, especially graphically. AC Unity was the trigger to say (and defend MTX/store driven content in that game) PC gamers are pirating asshats and he'd rather just do consoles. Apparently he didn't manage to stick to that conviction

If you look at the recent battlefield surrounding Ubisoft, its much, much worse. Outlaws bad reception, was the gamer's fault for being spoiled. AC Shadows failing even prior to its release, again is someone else's fault and Ubisoft's PR around this game to this point is a complete and utter misfire, talk about not reading the room. Its certainly not the fact Ubisoft has released that franchise to death, no no...

 

[c2DDragon]

I fucking wish for a good new Dead or Alive title, but no, sadly this is Assassin’s Creed. bazinga

Best they can do is : Venus Vacation PRISM: DEAD OR ALIVE Xtreme

Site Error

store.steampowered.com

“Venus Vacation PRISM – DEAD OR ALIVE Xtreme -” Coming March 6th, 2025 & Available for Pre-order

The new immersive romantic adventure game for consoles, "Venus Vacation PRISM - DEAD OR ALIVE Xtreme," is set to be released on March 6, 2025. Pre-orders for both the physical version and the digital version have begun today. More information about the Digital Deluxe Edition is available on the...

blog.playstation.com

About AC, they can put everything they want in it, I will just wait the 50% off and then add another 20% off with 100 UBI store points to buy the full edition.
Even if they sell the full gold edition with the season pass at 60€ (no way, I know but heh), at launch.