Maybe nonetheless stinging from the unexpectedly ferocious response to its resolution to carry The Crew to a sudden, undesirable cease, Ubisoft introduced as we speak that offline modes are being developed for The Crew 2 and The Crew Motorfest.
“We heard your issues about entry to The Crew video games,” Ubisoft mentioned through TheCrewGame on Twitter. “In the present day, we need to categorical our dedication to the way forward for The Crew 2 and The Crew Motorfest. We will verify an offline mode to make sure long run entry to each titles, keep tuned for extra information within the subsequent months.”
We heard your issues about entry to The Crew gamesToday, we need to categorical our dedication to the way forward for The Crew 2 and The Crew Motorfest. We will verify an offline mode to make sure long run entry to each titles, keep tuned for extra information within the subsequent months. pic.twitter.com/KDlz8h09OTSeptember 10, 2024
The Crew 2 is six years outdated and wasn’t nice at launch however has loved years of follow-on assist; The Crew Motorfest is way newer but has a a lot smaller participant base on Steam, probably as a result of it spent greater than six months as an Epic Video games Retailer (and Ubisoft Retailer) unique. Regardless of the case, there’s not what you’d name an enormous neighborhood of gamers on the market for both sport.
However the resolution to decide to offline modes for each video games in all probability is not pushed solely by participant numbers, however moderately emerges from the unpleasantness (and potential future unpleasantness) sparked by the shutdown of the unique Crew earlier this yr. Ubisoft delisted The Crew in December 2023 and rendered it unplayable as of April 1, 2024, saying the transfer was necessitated by “server infrastructure and licensing constraints.”
However moderately than quietly accepting that boilerplate justification as Ubisoft presumably anticipated, The Crew followers pushed again onerous, launching a “Cease Killing Video games” initiative that appears extra critical and well-considered than the title may at first recommend. A petition to the European Union hasn’t but attracted the a million signatures required to maneuver it ahead for doable adoption as legislation, however it has attracted 350,000 signatures in lower than two months, and that is not nothing.
There’s extra than simply blowback from The Crew neighborhood: Ubisoft can also be going through exterior strain arising from a years-long malaise pushed by quite a few sport delays, cancellations, and underperformance from launched video games. That is resulted in an extended, gradual droop within the firm’s share worth, which now sits at a 10-year low, and whereas bringing offline modes to a few racing video games is not going to show that round, Ubisoft wants no matter PR wins it may well get proper now. It’s important to begin someplace, proper?
A time-frame for the addition of offline assist for The Crew 2 and The Crew Motorfest wasn’t offered, nor did Ubisoft say whether or not it has comparable plans for The Crew, the sport that triggered all this bother within the first place. I’ve reached out to ask if a Crew comeback is within the works, and can replace if I obtain a reply.
Another factor, since we’re right here: If Ubisoft’s new dedication to the way forward for The Crew 2 has you curious, this can be a nice time to choose it up—it is presently on sale for simply $1 on Steam. That is 98% off the common worth, and the bottom it is ever been on the platform. A giant, heavily-updated, and “very optimistic” rated arcade racing sport for only a buck? That is an actual deal.