The Division 2 is exclusive to the Epic Store (and UPlay) on PC

[D13H4RD]

We probably didn't see this one coming. 

 

Hot on the heels of the announcement that some indie titles are exclusives to the Epic Store at least for a time period, Ubisoft has announced that The Division 2 will be exclusive to the Epic Store alongside their own proprietary UPlay platform on PC. 

Quote

The Epic Games Store's relatively new effort to take on Valve's Steam juggernaut received a major shot in the arm today. That's because Ubisoft has announced that the PC version of The Division 2 will not be sold on Steam and will instead be available only through the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft's own UPlay service.

 

Though The Division 2 previously had an info page listed on Steam, Ubisoft confirmed to numerous press outlets that "we have no plans currently on releasing Tom Clancy’s The Division 2 on Steam.” Epic Games also said in a statement that it "will also partner [with Ubisoft] on additional select titles to be announced during the coming year." Epic said it will "work to integrate key components of Ubisoft's Uplay and Epic's online services to provide gamers from both ecosystems with more seamless social features and interoperability."

Though there isn't a quote on exactly whether the exclusivity deal is permanent or timed, Ubisoft has stated that they currently don't have any short term plans for a Steam release 

 

With Epic securing a big title for its platform, it remains to be seen whether this will get people to try the platform or scorn at it even more for its tactics on securing exclusives. 

 

D13H4RD's opinion 

Spoiler

Seriously, enough with the exclusivity deals already. Stop harming the choice of the consumer based on which storefront they wish to buy their games from. 

 

Whilst I can sort of understand the rationale, I fail to understand how limiting the choice of the consumer is beneficial. 

 

Compete based on the quality of your service. Not based on how many exclusives you have as if it were an e-peen measuring contest. 

 

Source: Ars Technica

[XR6]

No deal for me. I can't use that Epic Games/UPlay crap. 

[dizmo]

I...can't say I give any fucks. It logs you into UPlay when you open the game in Steam anyway. So, chances are if you like The Division, you also give 0 fucks.

Can't wait. 100% invested. Much fun.

[sazrocks]

5 minutes ago, 1kv said:

No deal for me. I can't use that Epic Games/UPlay crap. 

But havent the Ubi games on steam gone through uplay for a while now? I know that uplay launches every time I run Rainbow six or the division, even from steam.

 

I would still prefer the current system but it isn’t the end of the world. And in what way are the Epic Games store and Uplay so crap that they are unusable?

[MoonSpot]

If it means new games drop back down to 60 Canadian rubies from 80/90, that would mean something to end users during these platform wars.  Its the only dog I have in the fight anyways.  Could care less who wins some popularity contest, if anyone.

 

Missing the days I could just run a game w/o a bullshit layer of any kind actively spinning away in the not so background though.

[PlayStation 2]

too bad the game's still gonna cost $59.99USD

gg epic

[Rune]

Wasn't planning on buying it anyway. So thanks for removing the ads I would have seen!

[XR6]

Just now, sazrocks said:

But havent the Ubi games on steam gone through uplay for a while now? I know that uplay launches every time I run Rainbow six or the division, even from steam.

I haven't played a Ubi game in about 2 years so I've got no clue. 

It's still not on my list of games to buy until it has an official Steam release since I'd rather use my leftover steam credit than pay nearly $60 from my bank account.

I also hate Epic Games themselves. They're starting to get EA's addiction to money imo. Look at all of the microtransactions in games like Fortnite, it's just going to get worse.

[D13H4RD]

Personally, if you want it, just get it off UPlay. 

 

One less thing to worry about. 

[ARikozuM]

Still going to get it on UPlay. Just seems odd getting a game from Steam or Epic when it has to interact through UPlay in the end. 

[D13H4RD]

2 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

Still going to get it on UPlay. Just seems odd getting a game from Steam or Epic when it has to interact through UPlay in the end. 

I find it funny how Ubisoft even did this in the first place. 

 

I can sort of understand partnering with Steam due to the large install base, but Epic's is much smaller. 

[MoonSpot]

7 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

Still going to get it on UPlay. Just seems odd getting a game from Steam or Epic when it has to interact through UPlay in the end. 

I'm willing to bet it has a fair bit to do with the percentage EPIC recently stated they'd take from digital content sold from their store front and how much more appealing it is than steam/orign/bethesda/whomever for big titles at least.

Do wonder what GOG asks for if Ubi didn't also throw them a bone, or if ubi views CDProjectRed as too much of a competitor, but not EPIC.  Or maybe they play nice with engine guys?

[ARikozuM]

2 minutes ago, D13H4RD said:

I find it funny how Ubisoft even did this in the first place. 

 

I can sort of understand partnering with Steam due to the large install base, but Epic's is much smaller. 

Probably due to the dev %. I just don't see why it should matter between Epic and Steam, just do both. 

Spoiler

Unless Ubi or Epic tried to set a deal. 

 

[ZacoAttaco]

24 minutes ago, 1kv said:

No deal for me. I can't use that Epic Games/UPlay crap. 

uPlay is solid enough, especially when you remember the days of Steam being the one location for all your games are gone.

21 minutes ago, dizmo said:

I...can't say I give any fucks. It logs you into UPlay when you open the game in Steam anyway. So, chances are if you like The Division, you also give 0 fucks.

Can't wait. 100% invested. Much fun.

Yeah exactly, Ubisoft have done a pretty good job of slowly easing their users into using their own platform.

3 minutes ago, D13H4RD said:

I find it funny how Ubisoft even did this in the first place. 

 

I can sort of understand partnering with Steam due to the large install base, but Epic's is much smaller. 

Hopefully I'll never have to use the Epic Games Store, maybe if they release a new Unreal Tournament or something but apart from that, I'll just stick to uPlay/Steam/Origin/Battle.net. It's not ideal but I don't like Epic's business practices so far, they've come out of the gate championing exclusivity, PC enthusiasts don't like 'exclusivity'.

[D13H4RD]

9 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

Probably due to the dev %. I just don't see why it should matter between Epic and Steam, just do both. 

  Hide contents

Unless Ubi or Epic tried to set a deal. 

 

It came out from Coffee Stain that Epic has given cash incentives in exchange for exclusivity deals. 

 

Don't see why Ubisoft would need that money, and it's also funny because Ubisoft also has their own platform where they get a full cut, whilst also being something that people who buy Ubisoft games would more likely get their stuff from. 

[ARikozuM]

2 minutes ago, D13H4RD said:

It came out from Coffee Stain that Epic has given cash incentives in exchange for exclusivity deals. 

I really need to tune into the TN sub-forum more often. That sucks. Hopefully that cash incentive gives the next Call of Duty a campaign*...

 

HINT: It's not going to happen...

[D13H4RD]

Just now, ARikozuM said:

I really need to tune into the TN sub-forum more often. That sucks. Hopefully that cash incentive gives the next Call of Duty a campaign..

That's part of the reason why the Epic Store has received some scorn as of late. 

[YoloSwag]

For anyone wondering why this is happening.

 

They're effectively forcing Steam (Valve) to lower their cut on sales, atm I believe Steam takes the largest cut among online game/software distribution platforms.

 

I hope Valve becomes competitive again. They're busy relaxing for a long time now as a publisher and game developer.

[D13H4RD]

41 minutes ago, YoloSwag said:

They're effectively forcing Steam (Valve) to lower their cut on sales, atm I believe Steam takes the largest cut among online game/software distribution platforms.

30% was the standard, at least until recently. 

 

I think the cut isn't Valve's biggest issue. It's how the storefront tends to have quite a lot of crapware piled on top of quality stuff 

[williamcll]

like internet TV, diverse PC exclusives only promotes piracy 

[xAcid9]

Yeah, no thanks. 

37 minutes ago, D13H4RD said:

It's how the storefront tends to have quite a lot of crapware piled on top of quality stuff 

Somehow i prefer it that way. I don't want to see the same shit in my storefront all the time. 

[DrMacintosh]

I play like 3 games, and none of them are on Uplay. 

[Humbug]

1 hour ago, YoloSwag said:

For anyone wondering why this is happening.

 

They're effectively forcing Steam (Valve) to lower their cut on sales, atm I believe Steam takes the largest cut among online game/software distribution platforms.

 

I hope Valve becomes competitive again. They're busy relaxing for a long time now as a publisher and game developer.

Money is changing hands for exclusivity. This is a backroom deal.

 

Ubisoft is also pulling the game from Origin. It's not just steam. We are seeing the rise of back room exclusivity deals on PC.

 

Speaking to PC gamer Tim Sweeney made the following comments

"These exclusives don’t come to stores for free; they’re a result of some combination of marketing commitments, development funding, or revenue guarantees. This all helps developers."

https://www.pcgamer.com/amp/epics-tim-sweeney-reveals-how-the-company-lands-exclusives-for-the-epic-store/
 

[BlockedTheShot]

2 hours ago, D13H4RD said:

We probably didn't see this one coming. 

 

Hot on the heels of the announcement that some indie titles are exclusives to the Epic Store at least for a time period, Ubisoft has announced that The Division 2 will be exclusive to the Epic Store alongside their own proprietary UPlay platform on PC. 

Though there isn't a quote on exactly whether the exclusivity deal is permanent or timed, Ubisoft has stated that they currently don't have any short term plans for a Steam release 

 

With Epic securing a big title for its platform, it remains to be seen whether this will get people to try the platform or scorn at it even more for its tactics on securing exclusives. 

 

D13H4RD's opinion 

  Reveal hidden contents

Seriously, enough with the exclusivity deals already. Stop harming the choice of the consumer based on which storefront they wish to buy their games from. 

 

Whilst I can sort of understand the rationale, I fail to understand how limiting the choice of the consumer is beneficial. 

 

Compete based on the quality of your service. Not based on how many exclusives you have as if it were an e-peen measuring contest. 

 

Source: Ars Technica

I feel like Samuel L jackson on snakes on a plane right now except instead of snakes it's DRM

[Ethariel01]

Forget the cut Steam takes, it's the refund policy, play it for a couple of hours, realise it's shit and get money back