In the wake of the controversy of its review embargo on Assassin's Creed: Unity, Ubisoft appears to be attempting to manoeuvre expectations about its imminent release of redefining action driving 'MMO CarPG experience' The Crew.
It was widely speculated that Ubisoft put a halt to early reviews of its latest Assassin's Creed game so that the eager paying public couldn't read anything bad about the title at launch time. When the pro reviewers from various gaming magazines got their hands on the game it was slated with comments describing it as rough and glitchy. For many gamers who rush to buy titles at launch it was a bit late to hear about the issues, they just have the wait for a series of patches to bring the title up to scratch.
Looking at the near future, Ubisoft has another blockbuster highly anticipated title about to launch. It's called The Crew and is another member of the Nvidia and Ubisoft Pick Your Path game selection. The Crew launches on 2nd December on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox 360 and PC but games press reviewers will only get the game on the morning of 1st December.
That sounds like an improvement on the 12 hour delay reviewers were forced to put up with in publishing their Assassin's Creed: Unity reviews but already Ubisoft is tempering expectations and informing us that early reviews will not be accurate. Ubisoft reasons that no one, not even a professional games reviewer, can judge The Crew unless they have spent 30 to 40 hours playing the game.
"We also know that many of you will be eager to turn to experts for their professional advice. You want to read how the pros feel after their carefully considered road tests of The Crew." Ubisoft sympathised on its blog. "While we totally understand (hey, we read reviews, too!), The Crew was built from the beginning to be a living playground full of driving fans, so it’s only possible to assess our game in its entirety with other real players in the world. And by other, we mean thousands and thousands and thousands of players – something that can’t be simulated with a handful of devs playing alongside the press."
So the games publisher is just letting us know, in a 'friendly and helpful' way to be wary of early reviews of The Crew and take them with a pinch of salt. Meanwhile gamers can actually give the game a run for its money right now as an open beta started yesterday. If any HEXUS readers have been driving through and enjoying 'The Crew's America' please let us know your initial thoughts below.