Gamers Enraged at Ubisoft for Injecting Ads into the Middle of Video Games
Ubisoft, a prominent video game developer, is facing widespread criticism from gamers after reports emerged that the company is injecting pop-up ads into the middle of gameplay, disrupting the user experience. The controversial move has led to a surge of discontent among players, prompting them to express their dissatisfaction on social media and online forums.
The issue was first highlighted by a Reddit user, triddel24, who encountered an ad during real-time gameplay in the popular title, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. According to the complaint posted on the Xbox One subreddit, the ad appeared when the player attempted to access the in-game map, displaying a 20 per cent Black Friday discount on Ubisoft’s new game, Assassin’s Creed Mirage. Players reported the need to manually close the ad by clicking the ‘Close’ button in the bottom-left corner before continuing with the game.
The intrusive nature of these in-game ads has triggered a backlash from the gaming community, with many expressing their discontent and frustration over the potential disruption of gameplay experiences. While it remains unclear whether Ubisoft intends to implement this ad strategy across other titles, the company is already grappling with significant negative feedback.
Gaming enthusiasts argue that while promotions and ads related to new games are more acceptable on the main menu before starting a game, inserting pop-up ads in the middle of gameplay is an unwelcome and disruptive practice. In the realm of console and PC gaming, in-game ads have traditionally been confined to main menus, a practice reluctantly accepted by most gamers.
The move by Ubisoft has ignited a debate about the boundaries of acceptable advertising within video games, with players questioning whether this experiment is a temporary measure or a glimpse into a potential shift in the company’s ad policy. As the gaming community continues to voice its displeasure on various platforms, the response from Ubisoft could determine whether the company maintains its current strategy or reconsiders in the face of mounting criticism.
