It’s usually telling when a game is announced — okay, make that vaguely mentioned — during a press conference, and then we don’t hear about it again after that. Ubisoft was one of the ‘big’ publishers who pledged their support to Nintendo 3DS at E3 2010, and made passing reference to an unannounced game called Assassin’s Creed: Lost Legacy, supposedly an original entry of the franchise, much like (we think) what may be coming to the Wii U next year.

Here we are a full year later, several Ubisoft games-deep on the 3DS, and no further info on Lost Legacy. What happened? If you guessed “shitcanned”, you get a cookie.

At a Ubisoft event this week, writer Darby McDevitt told Joystiq that the 3DS adventure which would have had Ezio Auditore traveling to Altair’s Masyaf setting in AC1, has been canceled. On the bright side some of the title’s ideas still live, as Ezio happens to be visiting the Holy Land in November’s Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, as part of his quest to find lost memory relics of Altair. Apparently the concept for Lost Legacy “kind of morphed into” the upcoming sequel, which is intended to end the Ezio trilogy/story arc.


Another fall 2011 Ubisoft heavy hitter, Driver: San Francisco, is also in the news this week. The franchise reboot is reportedly going to be receiving a one-time use “Uplay Passport” — Ubisoft’s take on the Online Pass — which will be used to access the multiplayer and online features. Adoption of this strategy was hinted at over a year ago, so it seems it’s coming to fruition.

Like most other games including these codes, the Passport would be free in new copies, while used/rental customers would have to pay a fee via their respective platform’s service. How much this may be has not been stated.

What other Ubi titles may inclue this going forward isn’t clear (take a guess, though), and there hasn’t been a official line on the matter. The publisher would join the likes of EA, THQ, Warner Bros. and Sony in adopting the new plan.

[Update]: Yessir, Ubisoft have joined the battle against used game sales.

Uplay Passport will be available “in the coming months and will be included in many of Ubisoft’s popular core games.” Other than Driver: SF no titles are named, but you probably assume Assassin’s Creed: Revelations, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, etc. sporting this.

Those who do not purchase Passport-including games new, they’ll have have to fork over $10 to receive a code to access the online features.


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