As a long-time gamer and supporter of Ubisoft, I find myself disheartened by the recent turn of events surrounding Assassin’s Creed Origins. I’ve spent countless hours immersed in the rich world of ancient Egypt, and to see it reduced to an unplayable state due to external factors is truly disheartening.
I remember the days when Ubisoft was a titan in the gaming industry, delivering high-quality experiences that kept us engaged for hours on end. The Assassin’s Creed series has always been a personal favorite, and the problems with Origins feel like a punch in the gut.
The term “review bombing” has been thrown around a lot recently, but I believe it fails to capture the essence of what’s happening here. This isn’t about unfairly tanking a game’s reputation or maligning the studio; it’s about voicing genuine frustration with a product that no longer functions as intended.
When we buy a game, we expect it to work, and when it doesn’t due to external factors or developer oversight, it’s only fair for us to express our dissatisfaction. These reviews serve as a crucial check on companies, pushing them to rectify these issues and maintain their good standing with the gaming community.
I’ve seen many ups and downs in this industry, and I’ve learned that honest criticism is not review bombing; it’s consumer advocacy. It’s a call for accountability, transparency, and resolution. Ignoring this distinction undermines the trust between players and the industry at large, setting a dangerous precedent for dismissing genuine feedback.
On a lighter note, I can’t help but chuckle at the irony of IGN’s common tactics being so poorly timed. You know what they say: you can’t spell ignorant without IGN… or maybe that’s just a coincidence! But seriously, Ubisoft (and IGN), listen to your customers. We want to see this gaming giant rise again, and honest feedback is the key to making that happen.
2025 saw further difficulties pile up for Ubisoft, as the PC version of “Assassin’s Creed Origins” has joined the list of their current problems. The game has been inundated with unfavorable reviews on Steam, causing its recent rating to drop significantly, now labeled as “Mixed.
Instead of labeling this situation as “review bombing,” it’s crucial to question this term. What we’re observing isn’t a premeditated effort to damage the game’s reputation or unjustly criticize a studio striving to excel. Instead, it appears to be genuine consumer discontent towards a product that, for numerous individuals, has stopped working effectively.
Gamers who use Steam have been overwhelmingly giving negative reviews to Assassin’s Creed Origins, following a recent Microsoft update (Windows 24 Hour 2) that appears to have rendered the game inoperable for some users.
— IGN (@IGN) January 2, 2025
The issue arises due to a November update (version 24H2) for Windows 11, which has made it impossible to play games like Assassin’s Creed Origins, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and Star Wars Outlaws.
(Thankfully no one was playing Star Wars Outlaws so it likely led to very little frustration)
Problems varied from screens turning black, freezing, to games refusing to start at all. Microsoft recognized the gravity of this issue, preventing Windows updates on affected devices and advising against manually installing version 24H2.
Meanwhile, Ubisoft worked quickly to resolve the issues, releasing updates for Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. However, Origins and other Assassin’s Creed games continue to be unplayable for many, with no clear solution yet in sight. It’s not surprising that players have taken to Steam reviews to express their frustrations given the prolonged silence and lack of action from Ubisoft.
2025 rolled around, and I found myself encountering an alarming surge of negative reviews for Assassin’s Creed Origins. The recurring theme in these critiques was disheartening: the game just wasn’t functioning as expected. Unlike the usual instances of review bombing, where scores are artificially lowered due to factors unrelated to the product (such as business practices or political viewpoints), these reviews centered solely on the game’s technical issues—or rather, its apparent absence.
When people buy a game, they anticipate it to function according to its promotions. If a game becomes unplayable due to factors outside the game itself – either from an update by a third party or an oversight by the developer – it’s not only reasonable but essential for customers to write truthful reviews that reflect their experience. These reviews serve as a crucial form of feedback, keeping companies responsible and encouraging them to address these problems promptly.
It appears that IGN’s assertion that this is a “review-bombing campaign” suggests a focused attempt to protect a prominent AAA game studio, instead of accusing the consumers who pay for the product. Although it’s fair to say that Microsoft bears significant responsibility for these problems, Ubisoft has previously addressed similar issues in other games. It’s been two months now, and players are justified in feeling upset as they haven’t seen improvements yet.
Endymion, a YouTuber, previously expressed similar views on IGN’s methods by saying “you can’t spell ‘ignorant’ without ‘IGN’.
The unfortunate timing of this backlash couldn’t be more detrimental for Ubisoft, as the company is currently struggling with financial and operational issues. These struggles include significant layoffs, studio closures, and a considerable decrease in market value. A powerhouse in the gaming industry until recently, Ubisoft has seen its market capitalization drop drastically, from $12.17 billion in January 2021 to merely $1.78 billion in January 2025—a massive 85% decline.
The late arrival of “Assassin’s Creed Shadows”, the poor sales of “Star Wars Outlaws”, and their growing financial troubles have further complicated Ubisoft’s already challenging situation. Industry analysts are concerned that if “Shadows” fails to meet expectations, Ubisoft may face bankruptcy by the end of this year.
Ubisoft’s continuous challenges highlight the delicate act needed to maintain support in the gaming world. Gamers are ready to stand by developers when they’re treated justly, as demonstrated by the long-lasting appeal of the Assassin’s Creed series. However, if technical issues persist without resolution and communication falters, that support quickly dissipates.
As a movie-goer critiquing the scene unfolding in the gaming world, I must voice my disagreement with IGN’s characterization of this situation as “review bombing.” Instead, these reviews represent a passionate outcry from consumers seeking accountability, transparency, and resolution – not an aggressive assault on Ubisoft.
Overlooking this distinction risks eroding the bond of trust between players and the gaming industry, setting a hazardous precedent for dismissing genuine feedback in the future. It’s crucial to acknowledge and address these concerns constructively to ensure that both developers and consumers can work together towards creating better experiences for everyone involved.
To put it simply, constructive criticism isn’t the same as review bombing. It’s about standing up for consumers. Ubisoft (and IGN) might benefit from paying attention to these voices.
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2025-01-03 23:55