Bad game, made worse, now done
Ubisoft has announced that it has released the final update for Ghost Recon Breakpoint. In a message posted to Twitter, the publisher explained that it was moving on from the 2019 title, mere months after the poor shooter transitioned into an experimental stage for the company’s (highly criticized) NFT program, “Quartz.”
“The last four months marked the release of our final piece of content: the brand new Operation Motherland mode, tons of new items including 20th anniversary iconic outfits and Quartz items for Ghost Recon Breakpoint,” writes Ubisoft. “We will continue to maintain our servers for both Ghost Recon Wildlands and Ghost Recon Breakpoint and we truly hope you will continue to enjoy the game and have fun playing in solo or co-op with your friends.”
Hey Ghosts, we have an important message we would like to share with you all ???? pic.twitter.com/kYeyVWVtgi
— Ghost Recon (@GhostRecon) April 5, 2022
Over on the Ubisoft “Quartz” website, the studio thanked the players who threw down Real Actual Cash to bag themselves Ghost Recon Breakpoint‘s NFTs, or “Digits.” As noted by GamesIndustry.biz, and in perhaps one the worst pieces of PR spin I’ve had the misfortune to recant, Ubisoft has praised its Digit purchasers by telling them:
“You own a piece of the game and have left your mark in its history.”
So, what happens to the Digits now? Well, the owners can attempt to “cash out” by selling them. Except who would stump up for Digits for what is now a dead game? Especially if everybody chooses to cash out at the same time. Alternately, the Digits can be carried over into other Ubisoft titles… Except they can’t, because Ubisoft does not intend to plan to install the Ghost Recon Breakpoint Digits within its other titles (for example, Rainbow Six Siege).
The purchased Digits are simply just “out there” now. They were paid for and now they exist. Except they don’t exist, by the very nature of NFTs. They do not look good, so are not to be admired as iconic gaming assets. The developer is no longer supporting the very game that these Digits were designed for, nor can they be used in any other Ubisoft title. NFTs in gaming, folks. Brave New World.
Regardless, Ubisoft seems intent on continuing its journey into the cryptocurrency/NFT space, going as far as to suggest that the players themselves “don’t get it.” Since 2021, a variety of companies have tiptoed into the NFT market, only to backtrack with haste in the face of plummeting reputation and angry fan feedback. Regardless, some studios are determined to make the controversial blockchain tech work for them, despite this overwhelmingly negative response.