Is it worth getting Ubisoft Plus?
In my expert opinion as an investment and business data analysis guru, yes, Ubisoft Plus is worth getting for hardcore or frequent Ubisoft gamers who want to access a broad catalog of new and old Ubisoft games. However, more casual Ubisoft fans may find better value in selective game purchases during sales.
What is Ubisoft Plus and what does it offer?
Ubisoft Plus is a relatively new video game subscription service launched in 2019 by publisher Ubisoft for Windows PC. For a monthly fee of $14.99, you get unlimited access to a catalog of over 100 Ubisoft games to download and play as much as you want.
The available games include major new releases like Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla, Far Cry 6, Riders Republic and Rainbow Six Extraction. As a Ubisoft Plus subscriber, you can play these big budget AAA titles on day one of their release, just as if you purchased them normally for $59.99 or more.
According to Ubisoft, they plan to continue adding all new premium games to the service on release day. For example, the upcoming Skull and Bones game will be included in Ubisoft Plus on launch day rather than having to buy it separately.
In addition to new releases, the library includes many of Ubisoft‘s popular established franchises such as Assassin‘s Creed, Far Cry, Watch Dogs, Tom Clancy titles, Rayman, and more. You also get access to Ubisoft classics like Prince of Persia, Splinter Cell, and Heroes of Might and Magic franchises.
One major advantage is that all DLC, expansions, season passes and additional content for the games are included at no extra cost. For example, Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla has major expansions like Wrath of the Druids and Dawn of Ragnarok which normally have to be purchased separately but are simply part of the standard catalog on Ubisoft Plus.
How does Ubisoft Plus compare to other subscription services?
The video game subscription service market has become quite crowded in recent years. Major competitors in the space include Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Plus Premium, EA Play, Apple Arcade, and more.
In my analysis, Ubisoft Plus differs from most competitors in its focused catalog of games from only a single publisher, whereas services like Game Pass include titles from a variety of different companies. The benefit of this more curated approach is that Ubisoft can offer deep access to content from its biggest franchises.
The size of the library on Ubisoft Plus is reasonably large at over 100 games, but significantly smaller than Xbox Game Pass which boasts a catalog of hundreds of games. However, Ubisoft‘s lineup focuses specifically on its portfolio of AAA franchises like Assassin‘s Creed, Far Cry, and Watch Dogs rather than the wider variety of indies and AA games found on Game Pass.
One major advantage Ubisoft Plus has over any competitor is offering brand new premium games like Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla on release day rather than months or years later. This makes the Ubisoft service very appealing for fans of the publisher‘s upcoming lineup.
How many subscribers does Ubisoft Plus have?
Ubisoft has not released official subscriber numbers for Ubisoft Plus specifically. However, we can look at Ubisoft‘s overall subscriber base for insights.
In their latest quarterly earnings report, Ubisoft announced they have over 23 million unique active players accounts. This includes subscribers across all their services like Ubisoft Plus along with traditional game sales and free-to-play titles.
Ubisoft Plus contributed to a 37% year-over-year increase in subscriber revenue collectively across their subscription services and live games. So while exact figures are unavailable, we can determine Ubisoft Plus is seeing healthy subscriber growth based on these stats.
Comparatively, Xbox Game Pass has surpassed 25 million subscribers demonstrating the fast growth of premium subscription services. So Ubisoft Plus likely still has a smaller subscriber base than Game Pass, but is gaining ground as a newer service.
What major games are included?
Some of the biggest and most popular franchises and titles available on Ubisoft Plus include:
- Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla
- Far Cry 6
- Rainbow Six Siege
- Anno 1800
- Immortals Fenyx Rising
- Watch Dogs Legion
- Riders Republic
- Roller Champions
- For Honor
- Ghost Recon Breakpoint
- The Division 2
And many more! The service adds major new releases on day one so subscribers always have access to the latest premium Ubisoft games right away on launch day.
What are the benefits of a Ubisoft Plus subscription?
Based on my research and analysis, these are the major benefits of a Ubisoft Plus subscription:
- Play new releases like Assassin‘s Creed Valhalla on launch day – big $60-$70 games available instantly
- Unlimited access to a catalog of 100+ games from Ubisoft‘s top franchises
- All additional DLC, expansions and season passes included in games at no added cost
- One month free trial available to test the service
- Download games for offline play after initial online verification
- Substantial savings compared to purchasing new releases at full price
- No discs or game management – everything available digitally
For Ubisoft fans in particular, the catalog offers tremendous value with so much content available for a low monthly price.
What are the downsides of Ubisoft Plus?
There are also some drawbacks or limitations to consider with the Ubisoft Plus subscription:
- Games are not permanently owned – lose access if you unsubscribe
- Focused exclusively on Ubisoft games, lacks variety of Game Pass
- New games only added for Ubisoft releases
- No console support, PC-only
- Monthly cost adds up over time
- Lesser value for casual Ubisoft gamers
The biggest downside is losing access to games if you discontinue the subscription. So it lacks the ownership of purchased games.
Is Ubisoft Plus worth it for casual gamers?
For hardcore fans of Ubisoft‘s franchises that play a ton of their new releases each year, the value is very clear. But what about for more casual Ubisoft gamers?
In my analysis, Ubisoft Plus offers less clear value for casual players who may only be interested in 1-3 key releases annually and less enthusiastic about back catalogs or older games.
For these type of casual Ubisoft gamers, carefully selected game purchases during sales events may prove more cost effective than an ongoing subscription.
The option to permanently own games and not worry about a subscription lapsing has greater appeal for casual players. However, the one month free trial for Ubisoft Plus gives a great opportunity to experience the service firsthand before committing.
Who is Ubisoft Plus best suited for?
Based on examining the various pros, cons, and use cases, I believe the Ubisoft Plus subscription service is best suited for these types of gamers:
- Hardcore or dedicated Ubisoft fans that play multiple franchises per year
- Players highly anticipating day one access to new premium releases
- Anyone interested in exploring Ubisoft‘s back catalog of games
- Gamers who enjoy completing expansive games with all DLC
- PC gamers without console access to Ubisoft titles
For these audiences, an ongoing Ubisoft Plus subscription is likely to provide excellent value and be well worth the $14.99 monthly cost.
More selective or budget-conscious gamers may still find an occasional month of Ubisoft Plus useful for trying new games at launch before cancelling until the next release they are interested in.
The Bottom Line
Hopefully this detailed guide gives you plenty of data and insights to determine if a Ubisoft Plus subscription is worth getting for your specific gaming needs and interests. While maybe not ideal for everyone, it remains a compelling service for Ubisoft‘s biggest fans. The one month free trial gives you adequate time to evaluate the catalog and decide on an ongoing subscription.