Assassin's Creed 4, Watch Dogs Developer Ubisoft Cancels Uplay Online Passport

Ubisoft has announced plans to do away with its Uplay gamepass, effectively ending the program and ensuring future games don't have to deal with the feature.

Uplay online passports, like other similar features, made it so players who bought a used copy of the game, or merely borrowed the game from a friend, would not be able to play the online portions of the game without first buying a new Uplay code. However, according to Gamespot, Ubisoft announced in a statement that they are discontinuing this practice due to shifting development strategies that blur the line between online and offline play. 

"The Uplay Passport program was initiated as a means of giving customers full access and support for online multiplayer and features, along with exclusive content, bonuses, and rewards. However, games today are blurring the line between offline and online, between what is 'single-player' and what is 'multiplayer'...Based on that and on the feedback we received from you, we recognized that Passport is no longer the best approach for ensuring that all our customers have the best possible experience with all facets of our games."

While future Ubisoft games such as Watch Dogs will not have Uplay passports, Ubisoft's newest game, Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, does include the feature. The Uplay Passport is required to access Edward's Fleet, which is an online feature that will allow users to interact with others either on the console or through the game's companion app. All new copies of the game have the Uplay feature included, and those who buy the game used will be able to enjoy the feature for free through either the PlayStation Network or Xbox Live. No word if the Uplay Passport will be included in the still-to-be-released PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4 versions of the game, as they are not due to be released until November and could skip this process now that it is cancelled.

Online passes were originally thought of as a way for publishers to reward those loyal to their franchises, as well as getting a cut of the profits from used game sales by making players buy the rights to play a game online. However, gamer backlash against these passes was fierce and the feature appears to have been a rousing failure. In addition to Ubisoft cancelling the Uplay feature, EA cancelled its own online pass program in May 2013.