Ubisoft – Ms. Bella's World

4–5 minutes

June has arrived, and with it comes something many gamers look forward to – game showcases. This year, the Summer Game Fest returns with a whole host of events taking place between June 7th and June 10th. Replacing the long-running but now defunct E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo), the weekend promises to woo us and tease us with upcoming offerings from various studios across a wide range of genres. Some of the programs will be watchable on Twitch, Twitter (X), and TikTok. All of them will be on YouTube.

I’ve been looking over the schedule and here are the ones I’m most excited for:

Guerrilla Collective, June 6th @ 1 PM EST – This is a showcase of indie games we can look forward to releasing, usually with a lot of trailers and gameplay footage. This one is high up on my list, and I look forward to seeing what promising titles will come out of the mix. Previous years have showcased games such as Europa – an upcoming platformer exploration game that takes place on Jupiter’s moon, I Am Future – the fun survival game set in the sunken ruins of a post-apocalypse that released on August 8th of 2023, and Garden In! – a cosy sandbox game where you grow and tend plants. I don’t know what this year will bring since I don’t want to spoil the fun of finding out but I imagine there will be games added to my wishlist!
Summer Game Fest Opening Showcase, June 7th @ 5 PM EST – This 2-hour event kicks things off with world premieres and special guests, and there is sure to be something exciting in the mix. I’m personally hoping to see something new about Light No Fire, the title that was teased by Hello Games, maker of No Man’s Sky, last year. Even without that, I’m looking forward to this one!
Day of the Devs 2024, June 7th @ 7 PM EST – Directly following the Opening Showcase, Day of the Devs focuses on indie titles, which is something I’m excited about. Last year’s showcase included games like Helskate – an action roguelike that released on February 15th where you skateboard your way through a hell-like setting, and Viewfinder – a surreal puzzle platformer that has you changing the world around you with your instant camera. I’m certain there will be games this year that will make my must have list!
Devolver Direct, June 7th @ 8 PM EST – While not the most robust in game showcases, last year’s made up for it with some wacky skits and lore. During last year’s event, they revived the company’s mascot from the ’90s – Volvy – as well as revealing Volv-E, a robot mascot that was a tongue-in-cheek satire about current trends in the games industry. I wonder what they have in store for us this year?
Future of Play Direct, June 8th @ 11 AM EST – Another indie-centric showcase and one I’m most excited for, as last year’s had many games show up on my wishlist. Two of my favorites were Aloft – (no release date) a solo or co-op survival game where you navigate between islands floating around a giagantic hurricane to learn ancient lore and upgrade, while battling strange creatures and curing a fungal infection, and Wildmender – a desert RPG simulation that released on Sept 28th of 2023 and has you exploring and surviving a desert biome while trying to bring life back to a dying world.
Wholesome Direct, June 8th @ 12 PM EST – This showcase focuses on games that are optimistic and uplifting. Last year’s featured a wealth of charming titles such as Venba – a short, narrative cooking game set in the 80’s that released July 31st of 2023, Tiny Bookshop – (no release date) a cute management game where you set up a little mobile bookshop and travel to different locations, and Solarpunk – (no release date) a solo or co-op survival game set in a world of floating islands. I get the feeling my wishlist will grow ever longer after this showcase!

There are other events as well, including the Latin Americal Games Showcase on June 8th @ 1PM EST and featuring Latin American Game Developers, Women-Led Games on June 8th @ 2:30PM EST dedicated to studios run by women, and The Future Games Show Summer Showcase on June 8th @ 3PM EST and featuring over 40 games for PC and console.

June 9th and 10th round out the festivities with the XBox Games Showcase on June 9th @ 3PM EST, followed by a look at Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, then PC Gamer’s PC Gaming Show @ 4PM EST which showcases the latest games. And finally, on June 10th @ 3PM EST Ubisoft Forward, featuring announcements, updates, and previews of upcoming and live games.

Quite frankly, the last 3 aren’t quite as interesting to me, though I’ll likely watch them anyway to see what they’re offering.

So, there’s the roundup of the Summer Game Fest 2024 and the programs I’m most excited for. But, which ones are you most looking forward to and what games do you hope to hear about this year? Leave a comment and let everyone know.

Until next time, bye for now!

2–3 minutes

On March 31st, 2024, The Crew, developed by Ubisoft, officially shut down. While its demise was anticipated after the game was delisted from all platforms in December of 2023, this shutdown has stirred resentment among those who still actively played the game. Despite calls for an offline mode to be implemented—a feasible option considering the game’s potential for single-player conversion—these pleas fell on deaf ears. It appears that Ubisoft’s priority lies in funneling players towards its upcoming release, The Crew Motorfest, slated for April 18th. Adding insult to injury, a senior Ubisoft executive has been quoted as saying players should become accustomed to not truly owning their games.

This isn’t the first time Ubisoft has sparked outrage among its player base; the company seems to find itself embroiled in controversy often.

From the ashes of The Crew’s shutdown emerges a figure with a mission and a dedicated website—Stop Killing Games (https://www.stopkillinggames.com/). This platform serves as a hub for a campaign aimed at getting a better resolution for the players of The Crew and preventing similar fates for other video games. The website offers resources on how to petition relevant authorities and provides information on laws pertinent to various jurisdictions, broken down by country. However, participation requires ownership of The Crew, something worth noting before heading to the site.

The alarming trend of gaming publishers favoring live service models with mandatory online components, even in primarily single-player experiences, is cause for concern. The fate of The Crew underscores the risk inherent in digital-only titles; when a publisher decides to remove a game from your library, consumers are left powerless. Often buried within the End User License Agreements (EULAs) we mindlessly accept, these agreements clarify that we are purchasing a license to play the game rather than owning the game itself. Moreover, these agreements frequently include wording that heavily favor the company, such as mandatory arbitration and limited liability clauses.

While the inevitability of online-centric games like MMOs reaching their end of life is accepted, the same cannot be said for titles with substantial single-player components. These games should offer offline modes, ensuring continued playability even after the online infrastructure is dismantled.

This issue underscores the appeal of the physical media offered by older games and systems where purchases remain immune to revocation. It also drives many towards indie titles, where the risk of sudden shutdowns is significantly lower. Until publishers abandon their relentless pursuit of live service models, even in single-player titles like Dragon’s Dogma 2, the situation is likely to worsen.

While hopes remain that the outcry from The Crew’s community may prompt reconsideration from Ubisoft, skepticism looms large. Nevertheless, commendations are due to the individual spearheading Stop Killing Games for championing consumer rights. Perhaps it’s time for more voices to join the chorus of discontent.

And yet, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m shouting at windmills.

What are your thoughts on Ubisoft’s decision to shut down The Crew? Can you think of other games that have faced similar fates or are at risk? Share your opinions in the comments below.

Until next time, bye for now.