Ubisoft Slams on the Breaks to The Crew, Internet Explodes

Yesterday, Ubisoft announced they were pushing back the release of Watch Dogs from November of this year to Spring of 2014. Not long after that proclamation came the announcement that they were also slamming the brakes on their sandbox MMO racing game, The Crew. It will now be released in Summer of 2014 instead of Spring.

“We are building franchises that will become perennial pillars of Ubisoft’s financial performance. In a context of growing successes for mega-blockbusters, the additional time given to the development of our titles will allow them to fulfill their huge ambitions and thus offer players even more exceptional experiences.” – Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot

Basically, they’re bumping back both games to “win the next generation.” I get it, and honestly I have no problem with it. Delay the game to make sure they put out a better (actually finished) product. All good. 

Entitlement ‘Tude Unleashed

But some of the reactions coming out of the gaming community are just plain absurd. Most humans living in today’s Internet Age feel entitled to let everyone know their every waking thought and action (thank you, Facebook and Twitter); leave it up to gamers to take it to a whole nother level though. You’d think Guillemot killed each one of their grandmothers with a soggy churro. Piece of advice: Stop your bitching! Your making the rest of us gamers look bad (worse).

 This churro is not soggy, but it is delicious.

Grand Theft Auto V just came out. If you’ve finished that game already… well, frankly… you need to get a life. In fact, while I’m at it… if you speed run through any game you’ve completely lost what it means to actually sit down and play a game. But I digress.

The Holiday Season is right around the corner and there will be a plethora of gaming options in the coming months. So, if your life revolved around the release of those two particular games to the point where you feel like you’ve somehow been violated… I pity you. No, seriously. 

All For the Greater Good

Guillemot explained that they are making the tough decisions now so everyone benefits down the road. Sure, bumping Watch Dogs will have a significant impact on their 2013 bottom line, but it will be added to (and made up in) their 2014 profit margin.  They’re not losing anything. Yes, they might very well be delaying these games to finish up Assassin’s Creed IV, but… so what? If, in the end, it helps make all the above mentioned games better that’s a very good thing whether you want to believe it or not.

Before stepping off the soapbox (while avoiding virtual barbs and slings no doubt) I have a question for those freely and safely bitching from the comfort of their recliner: have you ever been the CEO of a massive, multi-billion dollar corporation, and do you know the inner machinations of such a beast?

Ya… I didn’t think so.