Assassin's Creed 4 Multiplayer Maps Are Free Because of Microtransactions, Says Ubisoft

When we think about microtransactions, we often think about being nickled and dimed for content that should be in a game from the get go. However, Ubisoft game director on Assassin Creed IV: Black Flag’s multiplayer has a different point of view.

During Ubisoft’s GDC conference, Damien Kieken explained how involving microtransactions in ACIV’s multiplayer has allowed the studio to deliver additional multiplayer maps for free.

“Just quick notes here for example in our case,” he said. “We are offering all of our maps… so all of the AC maps are free in AC4. The main reason is we don’t want to split the community. We don’t want to have players saying, ‘I have the DLC, so I’m only playing with the guys who have the DLC, my buddy doesn’t have the DLC, so he can’t play with me.’ It doesn’t make any sense.”

Kieken believes that money is better spent elsewhere in order to keep the AC community playing the same content together.

“For us, because we want all of them to enjoy the game together, to keep playing together, to be happy together, and to spend money on the costume and other things.”

Ubisoft detailed that they saw an increase in revenue due to offering free maps alongside microtransactions, surprisingly. Though many devs are opting to introduce microtransaction into their games today, it appears that Ubisoft is among the few to give other content, like maps, for free because of it.

What do you think? Is this a sound approach to microstransactions and free DLC?

Assassin’s Creed Unity was recently announced alongside an in-game teaser video. No multiplayer details have surfaced, but we do know it’s coming to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.

Source: XboxAchievements.

http://mp1st.com/ David Veselka

I really like this idea. Would love to see it applied to Call of Duty and Battlefield. Don’t think it will happen, but segregation amongst the community is a very real problem, especially in less-populated MP games. As long as devs could offer meaningful micro-DLC without cutting into vanilla content, this could be a very real fix.
- acealchemist
  
  Reminds me how Sony releases content. They always release armor in Planetside 2 and new weapons that cost real money and use that money to further the develop the game for free. It’s a brilliant idea that more devs/publishers should take up.
- VisceralVenom
  
  Call Of Duty? Never. Maybe Battlefield.
  - ColonelBoston
    
    That’s b/c BF is such a broken mess, they need to do something to win back their player base.
- meds
  
  Will never happen in COD as they have already proven with Black Ops 2 and Ghosts that they can sell map packs and cosmetic micro transactions to their user base. As Angry Joe would say “F$%^ you give me money!”
  - http://mp1st.com/ David Veselka
    
    I HAVE A DREAM…!
- Work Hard, Twerk Harder
  
  The amount of times I go on the old zombie cods with friends, to then get mixed answers of which maps they want to play and then what maps each one has, I’d really like to see old DLCs on older cods to be free.
  
  Playing MW2 with DLC on PS3, I tried the other day, could barely find a lobby due to the lack of players with DLC in each mode. Anyway after this cod sale going on at the moment, I can’t see the sales for these old DLCs being sold at all. Making them free however, could potentially get people buyng the actual games instead, helping create a profit, a win win situation while hopefully making other games follow, like Battlefield and others.
- MegaMan3k
  
  FWIW, DV, I don’t think you need to separate your commentary from the article. Others may feel differently – and perhaps you think it’s necessary to elevate MP1st above a blog – but I’d appreciate seeing hard-truths paired with articles.
  
  Cheers.
- http://github.com/dubeg Guillaume Dube
  
  I think COD is less problematic since the userbase is so large, there are always lobbies to play in no matter what. Except if the game is a couple of years old.
- http://mp1st.com/ Fahed Jaradat
  
  Well said, Dave. Featured.
- Yevgenij Pekurovskyy
  
  not gonna happen, cause EA makes way more money from premium subscriptions. There are over a million premium subscriptions already
meds

Killzone Shadowfall is doing the same thing. Lots of cosmetic microtransaction DLC but all the MP maps are going to be free. This is a great approach for the lesser populated MP games out there to not fracture the community.
Work Hard, Twerk Harder

Nothing wrong with free maps in games, but I think that’s because I’m not someone who’d be paying for a costume which I either don’t see at all, or just see the back of all the time. I pay for things that actually add lifespan to games, something so small just isn’t worth it for me.
MegaMan3k

This is the appropriate strategy to take for a non-megatitan title. I don’t know if any games other than Halo, BF, and COD can get away with charging for maps.
M1ke Daddy

Yeah I like this idea as well there where so many time me & friends couldn’t play new maps becouse other friends didn’t have them
in COD
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pot51e

I think the point is that each publisher needs to find a strategy that financially works for them and their community to deliver the experience and vision of both.

I don’t believe in a one size fits all policy, and IMO the homogenization of Activision and EA’s approach to COD/BF damages their product, their brand and their community.
- thebulky1cometh
  
  Yes, but people keep shelling out cash for cosmetic micro transactions (I refuse to do so) AND the maps- why would they switch if they’re making money?
  - pot51e
    
    I agree 100%. I’m from a BF background, and I would find it a liberty too far if they then employed a MT model for camo’s, etc (not that I give a shit for them).
    
    My fear is that if A/V can do it then EA would be tempted to parallel their cash farming model.
    
    I think if you pay for a “season pass”or “premium” or whatever, then that should be it; 100% access to everything.
    
    But, take something like The Division for example. We don’t know much but we know its quartered in a huge area of NYC. The scale is one of its selling points. Say it’s hugely successful, but people want other cities to play in in 12 / 18 months (lets use London as an iconic situation) – how could a map or expansion of that scale be founded on MT’s?
    
    Similarly, there would be nothing in it for Ubisoft to deliver anything of such scale without financial benefit.
    
    In this case paid DLC would work. And if you want a different coloured backpack, then its either a MT or then free with DLC.
    - thebulky1cometh
      
      Don’t get me wrong- I love the idea of buying a whole new “world” for open-world games like the Division. But at that point, don’t you think they’d just make a whole new game and slap a $59.99 price tag on it?
      
      Ha I realize I probably sound like I’m just being antagonistic, but I try to keep in mind that these people are out to make a lot of money. Sadly, the almighty dollar seems to trump everything.
ColonelBoston

Yeah, but you gotta be careful. A lot of people applauded Bioware for all of ME3’s free DLC, but it was a scam. People were spending hundreds & hundreds of dollars on microtransactions on that game b/c the unlock system was such a broken mess.

Then you have to look at how that affected the single player game — to which BW said MP wouldn’t affect SP. All of the content you got for ‘free’ in MP had to be purchased in the SP. It wasn’t showing community appreciation, it was classic misdirection.
- thebulky1cometh
  
  I was kind of thinking along these lines with COD. If they did go this route, they’d have to offer micro transactions worth buying- in other words, more than just aesthetics (camos, characters, reticles, etc.). So, what micro transactions would lead to more people buying them? I would think things that affect actual gameplay- guns, perks, etc. Then it’s a slippery slope toward the awful idea of “pay to win” that we all despise.
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Caca

AC4’s combat is so boring and repetitive and easy, and the collectibles scouring is so lame, sorry I can’t play this game, tried for 15 hours and sold it back to get Last of Us.

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Assassin’s Creed 4 Multiplayer Maps Are Free Because of Microtransactions, Says Ubisoft

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