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PC Assassin's Creed II stumbles on Ubisoft DRM server snafu

[UPDATE] Publisher states "exceptional demand" on new Online Services Platform prevents game buyers from playing Windows version of single-player action adventure; denial of service attack blamed.

Ubisoft offered the first word on its new PC digital rights management method in late January, and many gamers were less than enthused about the news. The game piracy prevention method requires all players to maintain a connection to Ubisoft's Online Services Platform throughout the course of play, irrespective of whether the game in question is being played in single-player or multiplayer mode.

Loading game profiles has proven to be problematic…

Loading game profiles has proven to be problematic…

One of the first games to make use of the system is the Windows edition of Ubisoft's highly acclaimed action adventure Assassin's Creed II, which is currently available in Europe and arrives in North America this week. Unfortunately, concerns that Ubisoft's new DRM measures would hurt those who legally purchased the game have proven well founded.

According to reports on Ubisoft's forums and based on GameSpot's firsthand experience with the game, the publisher is experiencing technical issues with its Online Services Platform that prevent gamers from playing Assassin's Creed II. While attempting to play the single-player campaign, GameSpot has received error messages stating that Ubi.com's online servers are down and that an accurately inputted user name and password are invalid.

For its part, Ubisoft is aware of the connection issues and claims to be actively working on evening out the performance of its new DRM solution.

…assuming one is actually able to first log in.

…assuming one is actually able to first log in.

"Due to exceptional demand, we are currently experiencing difficulties with the Online Service Platform," a Ubisoft representative stated on the game's message boards. "This does not affect customers who are currently playing, but customers attempting to start a game may experience difficulty in accessing our servers. We are currently working to resolve this issue and apologize for any inconvenience."

Notably, within a day of Assassin's Creed II's launch in Europe, tech blog InfoAddict reported that Ubisoft's new DRM system had already been cracked. Ubisoft quickly responded to these reports, stating on its official Twitter feed that any claim that a cracked version of Assassin's Creed II exists is false and that anyone who acquires a pirated version of the game will find that it is "not complete."

When Ubisoft initially announced the Online Services Platform, it trumpeted the fact that gamers would be able to resume their game session from any PC, because saved games are stored on Ubisoft's online servers. However, even before the login complications stemming from Ubisoft's overloaded servers, GameSpot also experienced prolonged wait times as well as outright failures while attempting to load player profiles associated with these stored saves.

Ubisoft has yet to state when it expects server functionality to even out.

[UPDATE] Ubisoft has since provided additional information on the instability of its Online Service Platform. In a message posted to its Twitter feed, the publisher claims that server outages are the result of a denial-of-service attack.

"Apologies to anyone who couldn't play ACII or SH5 yesterday. Servers were attacked which limited service from 2:30pm to 9pm Paris time," the publisher said. "95 percent of players were not affected, but a small group of players attempting to open a game session did receive denial of service errors"

383 Comments

  • tomtomwolfwolf

    Posted Nov 16, 2010 12:45 pm GMT

    @salad10203
    You don't have to BUY the game you know...
    *whisper*torrent*whisper*

  • salad10203

    Posted Sep 1, 2010 1:06 pm GMT

    to all the idiots who say, losing a customer, you are truly missing out, this is a great game friggin game!

  • nsag

    Posted Apr 7, 2010 1:24 pm GMT

    to bad for the game is too god for this drm ..,.!@!@! !!!

  • mischiefmeerkat

    Posted Apr 6, 2010 3:46 pm GMT

    lolol! doesn't surprise me at all. now all their servers will be buggy as crap and probably go down for good in the next few months anyway.

    Ubisoft just lost another customer. I wanted this game too... tsk tsk

    "exceptional demand" my arse. i've seen nothing but angry comments and hate towards ubi's decision. they just cheaped out

  • jpingo

    Posted Apr 3, 2010 12:57 pm GMT

    I'll not buy this game... and i wanted to... This kind of DRM does give me some troubles...

    1 - I can only play the game connected to the internet... i travel a lot and a use my laptop to play.. so i'm not always connect to the internet, 2 - Too many people are complaining about problem's to login. 3 - I usually only by single player games because of point 1.

    4 - What will happen after some time? ... if ubisoft stop to support the game the DRM wont let us play?

    5 - I bought the game is it mine or ubisoft, since i can only play when they want?

    I think that company's have to defend them selfs of piracy, but they shouldn't ruined the gamers experience, and thats what ubisoft is doing.
    I wanted to buy Settlers 7 too, but i have the same problems above.

    In conclusion 2 sales less for Ubisoft..
    I hope that this trend does't pass to other publisher's or i'll not be able to play the newest games.

  • mojoba

    Posted Apr 1, 2010 4:11 pm GMT

    I have had this game a couple of weeks now and not one problem playing it. I think a lot of criticism of this game has been whipped up by pirates who are worried that all games producers will follow ubisoft's lead and produce something similar, in order to save the dwindling pc games industry from people who would rather get their games for free. Also games shops that sell second hand games will lose out because the second hand value of a drm protected game is zero as they can't be traded in. So if all software companies follow suite games shops will no longer be able to buy back games for a fraction of what they cost and then sell them back for profit, profit that the actual game creators do not benifit from. I have heard staff in one high street games store actively try and put customers off from choosing this game. When was the last time a pc game has been in the top 10 sales chart? If PC gamers want to be able to play games on pc's in the future, maybe they should be a little more supportive of companies trying to protect their creation. DRM is only necessary due to the 100's of thousands of pc gamers that download their games for free and cost the gaming industry millions, if not billions of pounds/dollars. Basically if you liked Assassins Creed 1, and have a permanent internet connection, you will be cutting off your nose to spite your face if you don't get this game. As Assassins Creed 2 is bigger and better in everyway and it's a pleasure to play.

  • silverprincej

    Posted Mar 26, 2010 12:29 pm GMT

    koto_azure have you seen the foruns? there are many people that have a good internet conection and buy the game and simply they can't play the game at all? and now what? the problem is not the internet but the maintenance of the servers. this kind of drm is an invasion of privacy.(and this is the main reason to people don't buy the game) and you're right.. "have fun". that's what i like in games.. to entertain, to have fun.. in my home.. in holidays etc i like to have fun everywhere and i don't need to bring the internet with me just to play a game..

  • koto_azure

    Posted Mar 23, 2010 4:23 pm GMT

    koolr, you are so right, even though these people give you thumb downs.

    Okay, so you people are complaining about having to have an internet connection? What, do you have a 56k or something?

    If you have the money to afford a computer that can run a game as powerful as ACII, or Splinter Cell: Conviction.. Shouldn't you have the money for a good internet connection? Seriously. ._.

    Most of the user reviews for ACII are so biased. You have to OWN the game before you can review it! I'm willing to bet that 90% of you that blast the DRM, haven't even tried it!!

    I for one, do not mind the DRM. You can have infinite installs, and your save games are stored online. And you do not need a CD. That sounds pretty fair to me.

    And a game like ACII, is worth it.

    Usually I'm the one behind in the tech, I never knew so many people had such horrible online connections. :3 Sucks for you to play any MMO games.

    Seriously. Stop complaining. Have fun. It's all a game. Literally. :3

  • masterlu

    Posted Mar 21, 2010 3:33 pm GMT

    How is making piracy the easier, more reliable solution a good business move?

  • Luizhng

    Posted Mar 19, 2010 9:17 pm GMT

    Ubisoft has a long history of disrespecting their costummers. Anyone remembers "Pool of Radience"? I don't buy games from them, EA (seems they are dropping their more evil DRM), and anything through STEAM. There is allways the alternative source...

  • Atombomb1981

    Posted Mar 19, 2010 6:37 pm GMT

    They will loose a big part of their customers because of this annoying copy protection and they obviously won't make any pirate buy it. The price is although too high. Which means their sales for the PC version will sink. I only hope they will loose enough money and time offering support for the people who actually bought the game, in order to realize they took the wrong approach to the piracy issue.

  • alfa18

    Posted Mar 16, 2010 3:26 pm GMT

    Are you kidding me? this is outrageous! You must be connected to the internet to play this game?(that doesn't even offer multiplayer) what if I have crappy internet connection, you're just telling me to f*ck off is it?
    I understand Ubisoft doesn't want to loose it's work to piracy, neither would I, but punishing the clients that do buy the originals doesn't seem a good strategy to me.
    I'll be sticking now to the X360 versions of their games.

    P.S: I hope their DRM gets cracked so they learn to respect us!

  • hitec16

    Posted Mar 16, 2010 10:29 am GMT

    yup i hope pirates make crack for this drm .my friend bought this game online and was getting trouble with drm so i m not buying this until drm is cracked . i have night unlimited connection so that means i can play this game only at night wtf is that.may be we all should join dos attack till ubi release an offline patch for this game

  • daquinot

    Posted Mar 16, 2010 1:29 am GMT

    Ubisoft lies about the 95%....it's closer to 95% of people who HAVE problems with the game....the next game will have no buyers....
    -1 customer

  • Fazeen

    Posted Mar 14, 2010 10:37 am GMT

    if they can get a game worth that kind of money i will buy...but this is jus all trashhhhhhhhhhhhh. fuk u ubisoft ..l..

  • fursecu

    Posted Mar 13, 2010 4:38 am GMT

    haha try to access their official site ! it's down on the ground, runtime error. nice

  • matmin007

    Posted Mar 12, 2010 5:46 am GMT

    boycott ubisoft

  • matmin007

    Posted Mar 12, 2010 5:45 am GMT

    boycott ubisoft

  • NeilCardiff

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 9:58 pm GMT

    Just throw the game straight in the bin and save all the hassle.

  • eelnarruc

    Posted Mar 11, 2010 3:49 am GMT

    some countrys have poor internet,fact. so if ubi are going to treat me and others like me with such contempt,people who were quite willing to pay for their game,very well.i think my moneys better of in MY pocket than in yours.

  • JimmyJumpy

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 4:34 pm GMT

    Was looking forward to AC2, but I won't bother, knowing they require not only a permanent internet connection, but also that your savegames are stored online... a well-meant straight middle finger is stuck up and pointed in Ubi's general direction. This means, of course, I saved some 60 bucks for another game, then... prolly BioShock 2...

  • BloodMist

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 12:31 pm GMT

    Yep, you're idiots Ubi, obviously.Nothin more needs to be said.

  • xXITrIcKyIXx

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 6:44 am GMT

    This bugs me because it is as though we paid $60 for a game we can't really "own"...if you get what I mean...legitimate users can't play their games whenever they want and wherever they want because of Ubisoft's control over their servers...

  • FiskMunk

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 5:26 am GMT

    5% my ass.

  • RicardoZagada

    Posted Mar 10, 2010 12:16 am GMT

    Next time, when they think about releasing a game in the pc, 4 months after it has been out for consoles just to test some online platform... they will think about it twice! And it looks like they didn't learn with the low sales of first title of Assassin's Creed

  • mardinn92

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 11:17 pm GMT

    I've got to say that the PC Controls are much better than PS3 with Assassin's Creed 2 ;/

  • hsmgaye

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 11:01 pm GMT

    DRM is really suck, What if they going make the upcoming game like Splinter Cell Conviction with DRM. I gonna hate Ubisoft, anyway hopfully they will release the patch for AC II for offline user.

  • chandu83

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 7:53 pm GMT

    I don't get it. People seem to hate UbiSoft...and yet there are people buying the game. If you don't want to support this nonsense, then just don't buy the game. There are plenty of other games out there...

  • Ladiesman17

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 7:48 pm GMT

    @ItsEvolution

    the difference Consoles & PCs:
    PS4 = PC
    that's reality Bro!!
    what the heck..PS4 isn't even exist.. LoL that's why PC much better.. with brand new GPU!! PCs become invincible.. both quality & long-term use..

  • bobsimcool

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 6:25 pm GMT

    I think that ubisoft decide to use this system to prevent the same accident with AC1 in pc.
    that time, AC1 sold poorly in pc because someone already hijacked the software & spread it into the net before the original copy was launched to the worldwide markets.
    So ubisoft try to protect the software using this system. I think ubisoft decided to got less sales from the consoles for the pc version rather than sold poorly like AC1.

  • RicardoZagada

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 4:10 pm GMT

    I know exactly 7 people who are playing the game after downloaded it from the web, and I know exactly 2 people who say that bought the game and are playing it. All 8 reported me saying that they are playing the game and that the only problem is the constant internet connection. 1 is formatting the pc right now. Both the buyers and the "pirates" are playing the game nice and good like any other and also both complain about the DRM. Me? I will patiently wait and see which one of the means deserves my attention... but now I can only say that the DRM completed two achievements:
    -Fails to protect game from the piracy.
    -Gives problems two those who bought the game in an act of good faith.

    I say that we should wait and let Ubisoft "delete" this nonsense.
    (sorry for the size of my comment, just expressing my opinion)

  • Avenger1324

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 2:38 pm GMT

    It's good to see this DRM failing whatever the reason behind it. The only way we are going to get rid of this kind of DRM is a big public backlash - get it widespread coverage and tarnish the reputation of Ubisoft with people thinking their games don't run.

    Only when it starts to hit sales and profits will Ubi take any notice.

  • mpeg3s

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 2:37 pm GMT

    DRM =

    Dumb Rights Manager

  • 666shan666

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 1:32 pm GMT

    @koolr, people who dont have internet, have dialup or dont have a lot of bandwith dont play MMO or multiplayer. This is single player, if you understand what i mean.

  • Hector_01

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 1:26 pm GMT

    I can completely understand why they try new ways to stop piracy hence drm, but this is just unacceptable. You dont pay top dollar for a game to then not be able to even log in to play it. I will eventually buy this game cause i enjoyed the first, but i think i will wait awhile and see if and when they fix the drm problems.

  • koolr posted Mar 9, 2010 1:25 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    koolr

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 1:25 pm GMT (hide)

    People have internet to play MMO and Multiplayer games online for hours.
    But they don't want to play a game with internet connected?Seriously?

    Crying like BABIES

  • moh_sakhaii

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 12:51 pm GMT

    Yes ubisoft, What if your sh**y company ceases to exist!! or you simply drop support for it. Someone should sue your a**es for this.
    That is if we can log in without problems now into your servers and ignore playing it on laptops where no Wi-Fi exists.

  • 666shan666

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 12:12 pm GMT

    the question then is, is the game that awesome that we can bear with the foolish DRM flaw & its inconsistency. i dont think so.the game is awesome only if it works the way you want it & when u want it. otherwise even with the awesomeness in the gameplay, it will still be at lower mediocre levels.

  • silentassassin9

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 11:35 am GMT

    Well I bought the game, and yes the DRM sucks, but the game is AWESOME !!

    Nice game Ubisoft, but I would get rid of your DRM designers.

  • 666shan666

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 11:35 am GMT

    @DarkGod189
    i agree, this will seemingly promote piracy rather than prevent it.

  • DarkGod189

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 11:18 am GMT

    For those that think assassin's creed 2 is better for console, it probably is now with this retarded DRM. This is the worst ive seen. Ubisoft = epic fail for thinking this will prevent/discourage piracy. Just like their release of Rainbow 6 vegas 2, there will probably be problems and it will be a pirated release that will run the smoothest which is really sad. Lost customer here, and i now refuse to buy any of their games, not that any of their previous games were really worth buying anyways.

  • 666shan666

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 10:57 am GMT

    i guess i ll wait too. users playing it seems to be frustrated due to the DRM thing. hopefully they release a patch for an offline profile.
    man, i was so damn exited about this game, all excitement flushed down the crap hole.

  • SYdoggXxX

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 10:37 am GMT

    @ItsEvolution

    "Why would you play AC2 on a PC anyway?"

    Why would you be so closed minded as to not realize that there are people out there who prefer to play games on a PC?

    I am going to wait a bit an see how the DRM issue is handled by Ubisoft. I'll admit that as much as I want to play this game on PC, if the DRM issues aren't resolved I'd be tempted to play it on a console. However I'll wait out and see, not to mention that I don't own a PS3 or 360 yet...

  • Rafass

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 10:21 am GMT

    @ItsEvolution

    "Why would you play AC2 on a PC anyway?"

    Cause it's 10000000000000 times better than a console.

  • XanderKage

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 9:28 am GMT

    "Due to exceptional demand"? So they expected the game to sell poorly because of the DRM too? Because otherwise - they're just stupid...

  • koolr posted Mar 9, 2010 9:27 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    koolr

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 9:27 am GMT (hide)

    @jkdwest

    dude it was dude to attack by the hackers,not an ubisoft fault
    .search on joystiq.com

  • thisisreallybor

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 9:24 am GMT

    i was thinking about buying this! sounds like the cracked version would be less hassle...

  • Daian

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 9:23 am GMT

    Ubisoft was once my favorite publisher. Now i just hope they stop doing krap to their consumers especially PC consumers in this particular case.

  • rahl247

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 8:36 am GMT

    also thereare always cracks for anything any company has devised. they may not want the public to know this but its a fact.

  • naryanrobinson

    Posted Mar 9, 2010 8:34 am GMT

    stupid. you lost a customer ubisoft.

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