Summary
Ubisoft is a juggernaut within the video game industry, being the publisher/developer behind some of the most popular franchises on the planet, includingAssassin’s Creed,Prince of Persia, andFar Cry.Even though Ubisoft is known for sticking to a specific formula for many of their games, they will venture out of their comfort zone every now and again, resulting in entries that are ambitious, experimental, and a little divisive.
When a game is met with mixed reception from players, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s bad — just that it is an experience that will be either hit or miss depending on the player in question, and what they enjoy on a personal level. This has been the case with numerous Ubisoft titles for a multitude of reasons, and this list dives into these games to uncover what exactly has made them so divisive among fans.
When the first trailer was released forWatch Dogsback in 2012, the game looked like a giant open sandbox where players would be able tohack into everything and anythingwith the press of a button. When the game officially released, however, it quickly became clear that, while hacking was still in the game (and very fun to toy around with), it wasn’t quite as expansive and natural as the trailers implied.
Many players also noticed a drastic graphical downgrade from the trailer too. While all of this caused some players to understandably be disappointed, others saw it in a much more positive light, considering it still featured some pretty unique gameplay mechanics and a rather compelling story. Speaking of story, the deadly serious tone of the narrative was also a point of contention; some people loved it, while others wished it would be more lighthearted — as it would be in the sequel.
After the release ofDouble Agentin 2006,Splinter Cellfans would be forced to wait another four years for a new entry in this beloved series, but when it finally arrived,Convictionturned out to be somewhat of a refined taste. Though the game does still try to incorporate thestealth gameplay that theSplinter Cellseries is known for, it also leans a lot more heavily into the action genre — requiring players to think less about sneaking around their targets and more about how to take them out in the flashiest way possible.
The Mark and Execution mechanic, which was introduced with this game, allows Sam to target multiple enemies before blasting them all away with the click of a button, which gives an idea of just how much more streamlined the gameplay is compared to previous installments. Those who want a much easier and more linearSplinter Cellwill find a lot to love here, but there’s still a lot of longtimeSplinter Cell fanswho are waiting for the series to return to its roots (to return at all, really).
ThoughFar Cry 6still follows the basicFar Crygameplay loop of liberating areas and activating radio towers, Ubisoft also implemented and removed a few features that made it quite controversial. One big example is how the game forces players to use ammo types to damage specific enemies, and while some players enjoyed this deeper level of strategy, others simply wanted ther guns to deal damage, regardless of what rounds they can spit out.
Another divisive change was the decision to replace theskill tree, which had been present in almost every game from the beginning, with a more complex progression system that is tied to the player’s armor and weapons. For some, this was a nice breath of fresh air after the series had seemingly perfected its core system with the previous games, but it was a step too far for other fans.
WhenAvatar: Frontiers of Pandorawas first announced to the world, many assumed it would be little more than aFar Cryclone, and while it definitely follows the same open-world formula, it still stands on its own in a few unique ways. For one, the lush and diverse planet of Pandoralooks absolutely jaw-dropping, really adding to the immersion factor and allowing players to live out their dreams of living alongside the Na’vi.
Being able to soar across the skies with a mount and harvesting special fruits for EXP are just a few examples of mechanics that helped to giveFrontiers of Pandoraits own identity. Not everyone saw this as enough to makeAvatara truly different experience to what had come before, but there are still many who warmed up to it and enjoyed it for what it offers.
There wasa tremendous amount of hypeleading up to the release ofStar Wars Outlaws. After all, Ubisoft was touting it as being the ‘first’ truly open-worldStar Warsgame ever, though whether players would come to enjoy it or not would largely end up being dependent on what they are looking for.Star Warsfans who simply want to explore vibrant cities densely packed with aliens and quirky characters would have a ton of fun with the game.
Meanwhile, those who were looking to dig into the RPG mechanics and combat felt that the game was a bit undercooked, especially the stealth, which some felt was too basic (though others came to enjoy it).Star Wars Outlawsis still an enjoyable game, but it definitely appeals to different kinds of players.
Despite no longer being the most recent game in the franchise,Assassin’s Creed Odysseystill features thebiggest mapin the entire series, which is ultimately at the core of why it has received such a mixed reception. For those who are fully on-board with the new RPG direction the series has taken, having such a staggering amount of side missions and enemy encounters was a blessing, but those who wanted more of a return to form felt like they were being left behind.
Simply put, this is an enormous game, and at a time when the open-world genre was starting to become a little worn out, it resulted inOdysseybeing the most divisive entry in the series. Ubisoft would slowly narrow down the maps with future games to replicate the classics more closely, but this would only happen afterOdysseysplit the fanbase.
AfterSands of Timebecame an instant classic in the eyes of many upon its release, Ubisoft decided to carry that momentum intoWarrior Within, which released the very next year. In a move nobody saw coming,Warrior Withinwent in a much darker direction than the previous game, with the Prince himself now being astoic and moodyprotagonist who was more than happy to slice his enemies to shreds in combat.
The drastic change in tone and aesthetic resulted inWarrior Withinbeing something of an acquired taste, with some digging the new style, and others being not quite as fond of it. The larger focus on combat, which ended up making the game a lot less diverse compared toSands of Time, was another aspect of the game that every fan has their own personal opinions on.
Skull and Boneswas originally announced in 2017, but it would go through a very strenuous development cycle where it was delayed numerous times, with many suspecting it would inevitably be canceled. Too much surprise, the game was finally released in 2024, though the reception was mixed. On the one hand, many players enjoyed the game’s immersion and carefree tone that made them feel as though they were really therecruising across the deep blue seaswith their buddies.
However, some felt that it could have been at least a little more complex and featured more content, considering the amount of time it took to develop. IfSkull and Boneswere released a year or two after being announced, there’s no doubt it wouldn’t have been anywhere near as divisive, but the expectations grew so high, especially with it being called a “quadruple A-game,” that it ended up splitting opinions.
