Uplay

An extension to UPlay, UPlay Plus is Ubisoft’s PC game subscription service that offers players $14.99 per month for unlimited access on more than 100 Ubisoft-published games. It’s similar to Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass and EA’s Origin Access for PC and EA Access for consoles. UPlay, on the other hand, is just a digital distribution, digital rights management, multiplayer and communications service to provide an experience similar to the achievements/trophies offered by various other game companies. The service is provided across various platforms (PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Wii U, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Facebook, iOS, Android, Windows Phone, OnLive), but UPlay Plus is on the PC.Monthly Payments for Unli GamingUPlay Plus offers $14.99 per month or a discount of $99 per year for an all-out access of Ubisoft games, like the Assassin’s Creed series and the Far Cry series. It includes all the downloadable content and expansion packs of the games, which is a plus, indeed. Unfortunately, the monthly price is hefty compared to Microsoft’s and EA’s on both PC and console, and they even have bundle subscriptions, as well. However, UPlay Plus allows access to recently-launched games and even early access or beta launches, and this includes their future DLCs, as well. The main problem with Plus would be its dependence on a steady internet connection and not downloading the game. Coupled with Google Stadia, you’re expected to rely heavily on your internet connection and that might be a drawback with a poor connection. Partnering Up with GoogleUnlike Microsoft and EA, Ubisoft linked with Google and UPlay Plus can be launched on Stadia, Google’s gaming streaming service. Stadia users will have free access to Ubisoft’s games on a monthly fee, as well, and they can play on their TV, PC desktop or laptop, tablet, and smartphones. Since Stadia is a cloud gaming platform, there’s no need for downloading games, but the problem of poor connection pops up again. However, Ubisoft games are mostly offline ones and don’t need constant latency, so UPlay Plus will work well enough when paired with Google Stadia. The link to Stadia would be enough to justify the pricey monthly fee, but Google also charges for Stadia, and so once again compared against Ubisoft’s rivals, the rivals seem much more promising.Play and Hope it WorksOpinions on UPlay are mostly negative and it affects UPlay Plus’ own reputation. It really doesn’t help that it charges more than what its competitors are offering. The incentives of access to many games and their expansions, including recently-launched games, is tempting but the ratio of games you can realistically play within a month and the price tag isn’t level. UPlay Plus dangles the tantalizing sight of exclusive Ubisoft titles, but it’s at a great cost. Google’s participation is tempting, too, but over-the-network streaming for offline games is always risky.