There is excitement about Ubisoft: They have made the only DLC for the game ‘Might and Magic X – Legacy’ inaccessible because they closed a server that is important for authentication. The curious thing is: Ubisoft continues to sell the DLC on Steam. For critics of “Always Online”, their worst fears are being realized here.
This is the situation:
- In 2014, the single-player RPG ‘Might & Magic X: Legacy’ was released to moderate reviews (71% on Metacritic). It was the first “proper, new” Might and Magic in over 10 years. On March 27, 2014, Ubisoft released the only DLC for the game ‘The Falcon & The Unicorn’.
- The servers for the game were closed on June 1, 2021. Since then, players who purchased the DLC have reported that they no longer have access to it. Worse yet: They cannot progress beyond Act 1.
- Right now, there is a lot of excitement surrounding the fact that Might and Magic X is no longer accessible as it was prior to the server shutdown, especially since Ubisoft is still selling the DLC on Steam.
Therefore, the frustration arises: In a reddit post, a player explains the difficulties.
The servers for ‘Might and Magic X’ were finally closed on June 1. The problem is that while Might and Magic X is technically a single-player game, it requires a “DRM” check: Players must verify on the server that they own the game to progress beyond Act 1, which is practically available for free.
Angry players threaten Ubisoft with class-action lawsuits
Here are the reactions: People are really angry about the development on reddit and Steam. They are even threatening lawsuits and class-action suits.
What particularly angers people is that Ubisoft is still selling the DLC on Steam for €6.99.
Is there a solution to the problem? On Steam, a player has already formulated a workaround (via Steam). However, it requires intervention into the innards of the systems and is not a complete solution; it’s more of a hack at the problem until it goes away, and it breaks some content along the way.
We at MeinMMO have requested a statement from Ubisoft and will update the article when we receive a response regarding the situation.
Nightmare of every ‘Always Online’ critic comes true
Here’s what it’s about: The problem is something multiplayer players know well: When the servers are closed, the MMO or MMORPG is gone, and all the time and money invested in the game feels like it has been sunk.
What upsets people here: Might and Magic X is a single-player game and it shouldn’t be necessary to be online for that. The “Always Online” policy of large publishers is viewed very critically. Ubisoft’s example is now “The terrible thing that was always predicted has really happened”: A single-player game can no longer be played properly because the publisher has tied access to an “Always Online” requirement.
For MMORPG players, “dead MMORPGs” are something they have learned to live with:
