IGN’s Game Scoop! Episode 785: Assassin's Creed Shadows Early Access Revoked – Detailed Summary

Release Date: October 25, 2024

1. Introduction to Episode Content

Hosted by Damon Hatfield with co-hosts Nick Limone, Sam Claiborne, and Justin Davis, this episode of IGN’s Game Scoop! delves into significant updates and discussions surrounding major gaming titles, with a particular focus on Ubisoft's latest challenges.

2. Assassin's Creed Shadows: Delay and Content Revocation

The centerpiece of this episode is the recent turmoil surrounding Ubisoft’s much-anticipated title, Assassin's Creed Shadows. Originally slated for release in early November 2024, the game has now been postponed to February 14, 2025.

• Removal of Early Access and Season Pass: Ubisoft has decided to drop the season pass and the early access feature that was previously tied to the Collector’s Edition. This Collector’s Edition, initially priced at $280, has seen a price reduction of $50, bringing it down to $230. However, fans are still critical of the high cost, questioning the value proposition.

  Sam Claiborne highlights the implications:
  "Ubisoft has slashed $50 off the price of the Collector's edition, so lowered the price before it's even out. But it's still $230. And I don't know who's doing it, who's buying, who needs whatever dumb figure is in this box."
  (Timestamp: 28:37)

• Speculations on Ubisoft’s Struggles: The hosts discuss potential reasons behind the delay and content revocation. There’s speculation that Ubisoft might be facing internal challenges, possibly related to overlapping release schedules with other titles or shifting focus towards more profitable ventures.

  Nick Limone suggests:
  "Maybe they're adjusting it so there's some kind of pricing scheme to make more money off of cosmetics or something that they just hadn't built into it instead of doing DLC."
  (Timestamp: 30:45)

  Sam Claiborne adds:
  "Ever since this game was announced, it's been an uphill battle for Ubisoft. There's a lot of negative sentiment out there about this game."
  (Timestamp: 31:12)

3. Call of Duty Black Ops 6: The Controversial "Pay to Hear" Feature

Another major topic is the release of Call of Duty Black Ops 6, which introduces a novel yet contentious feature dubbed "Enhanced Headphone Mode."

• Enhanced Headphone Mode Explained: This feature, developed in collaboration with Immerse Spatial Audio technology, promises improved directional sound accuracy. However, it comes with a subscription fee of $20 for a five-year period.

  Justin Davis critiques the model as:
  "It's a subscription that will last for five years. So presumably every five years you have to re up and pay an extra $20 to get the best audio experience on Call of Duty Black Ops 6."
  (Timestamp: 46:04)

• Perceived Pay-to-Win Element: The host team argues that this feature gives subscribers a competitive edge by making it easier to detect enemy movements, effectively creating a pay-to-win scenario.

  Sam Claiborne states:
  "It's literally a pay to win win feature. But I think the thing that bugs me the most about it is that just like if this is the best audio experience that should be built into the game, it's what AAA gaming is all about."
  (Timestamp: 46:36)

  Damon Hatfield echoes the sentiment:
  "It doesnt resemble Beyond Good and Evil anymore. It's just other than a pig."
  (Note: This timestamp seems incorrect; the correct attribution based on context should be elsewhere.)

4. Highlights from Recent Game Releases and DLCs

The episode transitions into discussions about various recent and upcoming game releases, providing reviews and insights into each title.

• Alan Wake 2's Lake House DLC: The Lake House DLC is lauded as a fitting conclusion to the Alan Wake 2 saga, offering a claustrophobic horror experience with unique enemies and narrative teasers connected to Ubisoft’s Control.

  Damon Hatfield praises the DLC:
  "It is an ink blot painting monster that emerges from painted walls throughout the facility. It is just incredible."
  (Timestamp: 05:03)

  Damon also mentions:
  "There's like an extended teaser for what it looks like Control two. And it's all available on IGN.com if you want to watch it on our YouTube."
  (Timestamp: 05:30)

• Darkest Dungeon Season Progress: Sam Claiborne shares experiences playing Darkest Dungeon, commending its atmosphere and combat mechanics but critiquing the sporadic appearance of bosses and the frustration caused by the turn-based combat's chance to miss mechanics.

  Sam remarks:
  "I find myself often they only appear randomly, they're not always there. So it's like ready. Everyone's in good shape and I'm ready to like sit out with all my most powerful warriors and go take on a boss. But a boss is not available."
  (Timestamp: 08:16)

• Factorio Space Age DLC: Factorio’s latest DLC, Space Age, expands the factory-building simulation into space with new logistical challenges and planetary exploration.

  Nick Limone enthuses:
  "Factorio is, in my humble opinion, the best factory game. This DLC also has... a change list of like 2000 quality of life things."
  (Timestamp: 19:04)

  Damon adds:
  "I might actually check this out. The nonsense of what I see on screen looks so appealing to me and I want to know, I want to understand, I want to decipher."
  (Timestamp: 17:53)

• Mario Party 10 Review: The hosts commend Mario Party 10 for its improved AI and engaging mini-games, rating it a 9 out of 10. They particularly enjoy the fast-paced dialogue options and customizable game modes that enhance the party experience.

  Justin praises:
  "The minigames are really good. They're funny. They look good. Like the whole game looks good."
  (Timestamp: 12:03)

• East 10 Nordics Action RPG: Damon Hatfield introduces East 10 Nordics, an action RPG reminiscent of PS2-era titles with a variety of gameplay systems, including fishing mini-games, co-op modes, and ship navigation.

  Damon recommends:
  "It's pure video game distilled down to like, this is what an action RPG is. And I cannot recommend it enough."
  (Timestamp: 22:02)

• Vampire Survivors’ Castlevania DLC: The addition of a Castlevania-themed DLC to Vampire Survivors is discussed, highlighting the integration of iconic characters, weapons, and stages for a nominal price of $4.

  Sam Claiborne explains:
  "It adds 20 new characters, 40 new weapons, and one massive stage. The whole thing is $4, dude."
  (Timestamp: 50:19)

• Metal Slug Tactics Launch: Set to release on November 5th across multiple platforms, Metal Slug Tactics is explored as a tactical, turn-based take on the classic shooter series, with new playable characters and revamped graphics.

  Sam Claiborne announces:
  "Metal Slug Tactics has a launch day and it is not far at all. Metal Slug Tactics launches on November 5th on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4 and 5, Xbox Series X and S, and Xbox One."
  (Timestamp: 50:02)

5. Ubisoft's Internal Challenges: Prince of Persia and Beyond Good and Evil

The conversation shifts back to Ubisoft’s internal struggles, particularly focusing on the disbanding of the Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown development team despite the game's critical acclaim.

• Team Dissolution Despite Success: Despite positive feedback, Ubisoft reportedly disbanded the development team due to underwhelming sales, indicating deeper issues within the company's project management and financial strategies.

  Sam Claiborne reports:
  "Prince of Persia, the Lost Crown team, has apparently been disbanded. Even though we've all sung the phrase, everyone seems to love that game."
  (Timestamp: 38:19)

  Justin Davis laments:
  "I feel like this game... got absorbed back into the nucleus of Ubisoft. And so now the hope for Ubisoft is just back to like their IP again."
  (Timestamp: 41:03)

• Hope for Future Projects: Despite setbacks, the hosts express optimism for future Ubisoft projects, referencing the positive reception of Star Wars Outlaws as an indication that Ubisoft can still produce compelling open-world games.

  Justin shares:
  "I think Ubisoft, if Outlaws is any indication, they can make awesome open world games and this one should be one."
  (Timestamp: 31:31)

6. Listener Interaction: Balatro's Hidden Mechanics

A listener named Daniel from Maryland shares his experience with the game Balatro, revealing a crucial game mechanic he initially overlooked.

• Discovery of Hidden Features: Daniel recounts discovering the ability to resequence jokers at a critical point in Balatro, which significantly impacts gameplay and scoring.

  Sam Claiborne narrates Daniel’s anecdote:
  "If you can recall any other times when a fundamental part of a game was unknown to you... It is a safety game’s most powerful mechanic."
  (Timestamp: 63:09)

  Damon Hatfield humorously responds:
  "Rookie move."
  (Timestamp: 63:13)

7. Closing Remarks and Future Episodes

The episode concludes with the hosts expressing excitement for upcoming releases and listener engagement. They tease future segments like GameSpook and encourage listeners to reach out with their game suggestions and anecdotes.

Damon Hatfield wraps up:
"Thank you to Nick. Thank you, Sam. Thank you to everyone working behind the scenes in our LA studio here to make this episode possible. My name is Damon. This is IG and Game Scoop. And we're out."
(Timestamp: 84:11)

Notable Quotes Overview:

• Sam Claiborne on Ubisoft's Collector’s Edition Price Cut:
  "So they've delayed the game, taking out the season pass, taking out the early access..."
  (28:37)

• Justin Davis on Call of Duty's Audio Feature:
  "It's literally a pay to win win feature."
  (46:36)

• Damon Hatfield on Alan Wake 2's DLC:
  "I'm just like, it is a fabulous end cap to the entirety of the Alan Wake 2 saga."
  (05:03)

• Nick Limone on Factorio's Art Style:
  "For me it's a big pro. Like I really like the game's art style."
  (19:04)

• Sam Claiborne on Balatro's Hidden Mechanic:
  "It's a trial and error game like so many of these games are."
  (64:05)

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the episode's key discussions, providing insights into Ubisoft's challenges with Assassin's Creed Shadows, the contentious Call of Duty Black Ops 6 feature, and reviews of various recent game releases and DLCs. Additionally, it highlights listener interactions that add a personal touch to the episode's narrative.