We – or rather I, unfortunately, have to eat a bit of crow. In April, we told you that uPlay was only needed to activate Watch Dogs, and you wouldn’t need to run that bloated, awful service in tandem with Steam to have the game working. We were wrong. We got this information directly from our Ubisoft rep, and believed it. It was, perhaps, bad information; the game unfortunately does need that rubbish in order to run, though you can set uPlay to play offline once it’s gobbled up your CD Key. We’re awfully sorry about that. We apologise to anyone who bought the game on our info, and has to endure uPlay. Surprise, surprise – it’s causing issues for people at launch.
Many are complaining that the PC version of the game is unplayable. Constraints on Ubisoft’s uPlay service are keeping many from being able to log in to the service to play the game they’ve bought, while others still are unable to even download the game they’ve bought.
While the issue has been alleviated a bit, it’s still something that’s affecting players. Ubisoft still says it’s working to fix it.
We’re still working on fixing our server authentication issues. Stay tuned_
— Watch Dogs (@watchdogsgame) May 27, 2014
Online issues that keep people from playing the games that they’ve bought it is an increasing problem; Sim City and Diablo III spring immediately to mind. It’s one that shouldn’t exist in the first place, and uPlay is one of the biggest culprits in that arena. I get what it’s trying to be; a built-in rewards systems that tracks players progress, but all it’s actually accomplishing is being bloated DRM that makes people not want to buy Ubisoft games on PC.
Ubisoft, I implore you. Just stop it.
Last Updated: May 28, 2014
VampyreSquirrel
May 28, 2014 at 10:05
Sounds like AssCreed 2 all over again… god damn that was a screw up… couldn’t play the game for ages because their piece of crap service was fucked.
Jedi JJ
May 28, 2014 at 12:31
There was a problem like that with Blood Dragon too.
But doesn’t Watch_Dogs run without Uplay if it’s bought on Steam? They said it would initially.
VampyreSquirrel
May 28, 2014 at 12:33
Nah, according to Geoff it’s required either way.
Jedi JJ
May 28, 2014 at 12:35
So Ubisoft was talking complete crap when they said it would be able to run without Uplay. Then it’s going off my wishlist. Plain and simple.
Andrew vd Walt
May 28, 2014 at 12:42
Steam versions of Ubi games run Uplay when u run them from steam ui.
VampyreSquirrel
May 28, 2014 at 12:55
It’ll stay on my wish list… but it’ll be there for a while.
Andrew vd Walt
May 28, 2014 at 12:39
I had trouble with a digital copy of AC4 too… couldn’t get it to run for weeks and their customer service people kept passing the buck.
Aries
May 28, 2014 at 15:09
the fine line says you can just google your problem before you bother them with it
VampyreSquirrel
May 28, 2014 at 10:05
Sounds like AssCreed 2 all over again… god damn that was a screw up… couldn’t play the game for ages because their piece of crap service was fucked.
VampyreSquirrel
May 28, 2014 at 10:05
Sounds like AssCreed 2 all over again… god damn that was a screw up… couldn’t play the game for ages because their piece of crap service was fucked.
Uberutang
May 28, 2014 at 10:06
Click the ‘always start offline’ option. Sorted. I played for hours last night. You only need it once to add cd key and it was up every few tries. Not really a huge train smash.
I still hate it with a passion and wish they would just go back to using steam.
Brady miaau
May 28, 2014 at 10:17
that does not sound too bad then?
FSR
May 28, 2014 at 12:11
Yip, same my side. Had to try 3 times to connect to enter my key and start the DL. Once downloaded, it tried to connect twice and then i just switched to offline and had me some fun.
Wyzak
May 28, 2014 at 13:24
Yeah I also doubt the facts in the article. I had no issues going offline during the server issues.
Aries
May 28, 2014 at 15:10
i had, played, saved, took a break came back and had no saved data, that was 3hrs of gameplay
Wyzak
May 28, 2014 at 15:34
Ouch that sucks, did you turn off the Uplay backups?
Aries
May 28, 2014 at 15:45
only afterwards, but got the save file back and it worked again
Wyzak
May 28, 2014 at 16:06
Ah ok, nice!
Anon A Mouse
May 28, 2014 at 10:07
Typical Asian, will eat anything that’s on his plate except real food 😉
Anon A Mouse
May 28, 2014 at 10:07
Typical Asian, will eat anything that’s on his plate except real food 😉
Anon A Mouse
May 28, 2014 at 10:07
Typical Asian, will eat anything that’s on his plate except real food 😉
Anon A Mouse
May 28, 2014 at 10:08
So much for playing games on master race technology then.
Anon A Mouse
May 28, 2014 at 10:08
So much for playing games on master race technology then.
Uberutang
May 28, 2014 at 10:09
Install game from DVD. Click. Crack. Download. backup exe. add Crack. Play. Uplay issue solved. Once their servers are sorted you can always restore the original exe and play online if you want to.
Alex Hicks
May 28, 2014 at 10:10
Sorry – can’t condone this. It’s like a gateway drug to piracy …
Alex Hicks
May 28, 2014 at 10:10
Sorry – can’t condone this. It’s like a gateway drug to piracy …
Uberutang
May 28, 2014 at 10:11
Is is really piracy if you crack a game you bought just to get to play it?
It is like fitting a new non oem air filter on your car or bike.
Uberutang
May 28, 2014 at 10:11
Is is really piracy if you crack a game you bought just to get to play it?
It is like fitting a new non oem air filter on your car or bike.
Anon A Mouse
May 28, 2014 at 10:12
Hopefully you do that after the warranty expired or else you will have no warranty anymore.
Alex Hicks
May 28, 2014 at 10:12
That’s why I said gateway drug.
Still – the irony is probably worth it for this title.
Uberutang
May 28, 2014 at 10:11
Is is really piracy if you crack a game you bought just to get to play it?
It is like fitting a new non oem air filter on your car or bike.
Rags
May 28, 2014 at 10:12
😀
Rags
May 28, 2014 at 10:12
😀
Rags
May 28, 2014 at 10:12
😀
Alex Hicks
May 28, 2014 at 10:10
Sorry – can’t condone this. It’s like a gateway drug to piracy …
Kromas
May 28, 2014 at 10:11
Piracy … the solution to making the games you bought work. 🙂
Uberutang
May 28, 2014 at 10:12
I don’t think using a offline exe is piracy. Downloading the entire game is yes, but just the exe for something you legally own?
Uberutang
May 28, 2014 at 10:12
I don’t think using a offline exe is piracy. Downloading the entire game is yes, but just the exe for something you legally own?
Brady miaau
May 28, 2014 at 10:14
Yeah, most of my CD / DVD based games were played with cracks. Swap disks? you must be joking.
I love downloading games, though. Steam and Xbox live suit me just fine.
Uberutang
May 28, 2014 at 10:20
Yup. I dont even have a dvd rom in my pc, I had to network share one from an old laptop to install this!
Brady miaau
May 28, 2014 at 10:14
Yeah, most of my CD / DVD based games were played with cracks. Swap disks? you must be joking.
I love downloading games, though. Steam and Xbox live suit me just fine.
Brady miaau
May 28, 2014 at 10:14
Yeah, most of my CD / DVD based games were played with cracks. Swap disks? you must be joking.
I love downloading games, though. Steam and Xbox live suit me just fine.
Kromas
May 28, 2014 at 10:14
Actually … modifying the game in any way is just as good to piracy in most publishers eyes. Go look at the EA eula. then again go for it. If you own the game and need to crack it to make it work I won’t blow the whistle.
Uberutang
May 28, 2014 at 10:16
Well so is selling a game again. They HATE it, but can not yet stop it.
Kromas
May 28, 2014 at 10:17
Well like I said. I stand by you. My Sim Shitty only works off a crack as I prefer to actually play the game than look at a “connecting” screen.
Uberutang
May 28, 2014 at 10:16
Well so is selling a game again. They HATE it, but can not yet stop it.
Uberutang
May 28, 2014 at 10:16
Well so is selling a game again. They HATE it, but can not yet stop it.
Kromas
May 28, 2014 at 10:14
Actually … modifying the game in any way is just as good to piracy in most publishers eyes. Go look at the EA eula. then again go for it. If you own the game and need to crack it to make it work I won’t blow the whistle.
Kromas
May 28, 2014 at 10:14
Actually … modifying the game in any way is just as good to piracy in most publishers eyes. Go look at the EA eula. then again go for it. If you own the game and need to crack it to make it work I won’t blow the whistle.
RinceofFuturePast
May 28, 2014 at 10:26
I am with you on this, but not sure what that does when you finally do play online? Won’t they block you?
Uberutang
May 28, 2014 at 10:27
Block the exe on your firewall and restore the original once they sort their servers out. Then all is back to normal.
RinceofFuturePast
May 28, 2014 at 10:28
Shouldn’t be like this man, just shouldn’t. Put the game in (or dl) and PLAY. That is what it should be like. Fucking corps.
MakeItLegal
May 28, 2014 at 11:22
I think u with in your rights , u legally purchased it , the fact u have to patch it to make it work is faults on ubisoft not yours.
Consumer power
Uberutang
May 28, 2014 at 10:12
I don’t think using a offline exe is piracy. Downloading the entire game is yes, but just the exe for something you legally own?
Kromas
May 28, 2014 at 10:11
Piracy … the solution to making the games you bought work. 🙂
Kromas
May 28, 2014 at 10:11
Piracy … the solution to making the games you bought work. 🙂
VampyreSquirrel
May 28, 2014 at 10:12
Sounds like what I had to do to play AssCreed2
VampyreSquirrel
May 28, 2014 at 10:12
Sounds like what I had to do to play AssCreed2
VampyreSquirrel
May 28, 2014 at 10:12
Sounds like what I had to do to play AssCreed2
Hammersteyn
May 28, 2014 at 10:21
Stuck my disc in the PS4 and viola it works.
Kromas
May 28, 2014 at 10:22
Yeah accept your PS4 needs the update … not the game. 😛
Hammersteyn
May 28, 2014 at 10:27
But it doesn’t need Uplay
Morne Nell
May 28, 2014 at 10:46
In fact it does, unfortunately was the same with assassins creed, The season pass and uplay rewards is linked to your Uplay account, the uplay account is then linked to the plus account. Unfortunately when uplay is down you can’t access your additional content only the normal content.
Kromas
May 28, 2014 at 11:05
Oh snap.
Sorry @hammersteyn:disqus 😛
Hammersteyn
May 28, 2014 at 11:24
That may be true, but it’s never been down for me.
Uberutang
May 28, 2014 at 10:09
Install game from DVD. Click. Crack. Download. backup exe. add Crack. Play. Uplay issue solved. Once their servers are sorted you can always restore the original exe and play online if you want to.
Uberutang
May 28, 2014 at 10:09
Install game from DVD. Click. Crack. Download. backup exe. add Crack. Play. Uplay issue solved. Once their servers are sorted you can always restore the original exe and play online if you want to.
Anon A Mouse
May 28, 2014 at 10:08
So much for playing games on master race technology then.
Alex Hicks
May 28, 2014 at 10:08
Now I is sad.
I loved Ubisoft – and they still make pretty good games – but uPlay is crap – pure and simple. I had these issues with Far Cry 3, and I bought that on sale, many months after release – when the server issues should have been fixed.
Now I’m worried – looks like my policy of not buying games on launch has paid off again. Of course, that’s partly due to having limited cashflow and less time together with an increasing backlog – but I’m going to pretend it was a master stroke for pessimism!
Alex Hicks
May 28, 2014 at 10:08
Now I is sad.
I loved Ubisoft – and they still make pretty good games – but uPlay is crap – pure and simple. I had these issues with Far Cry 3, and I bought that on sale, many months after release – when the server issues should have been fixed.
Now I’m worried – looks like my policy of not buying games on launch has paid off again. Of course, that’s partly due to having limited cashflow and less time together with an increasing backlog – but I’m going to pretend it was a master stroke for pessimism!
Alex Hicks
May 28, 2014 at 10:08
Now I is sad.
I loved Ubisoft – and they still make pretty good games – but uPlay is crap – pure and simple. I had these issues with Far Cry 3, and I bought that on sale, many months after release – when the server issues should have been fixed.
Now I’m worried – looks like my policy of not buying games on launch has paid off again. Of course, that’s partly due to having limited cashflow and less time together with an increasing backlog – but I’m going to pretend it was a master stroke for pessimism!
Kromas
May 28, 2014 at 10:10
I got in after 1 try and was way too scared to even quit the game yesterday as my mumble server was full of people crying they could not get in. Also still have no idea how you hack your own friend 1 chapter into the game. 🙁
Kromas
May 28, 2014 at 10:10
I got in after 1 try and was way too scared to even quit the game yesterday as my mumble server was full of people crying they could not get in. Also still have no idea how you hack your own friend 1 chapter into the game. 🙁
Kromas
May 28, 2014 at 10:10
I got in after 1 try and was way too scared to even quit the game yesterday as my mumble server was full of people crying they could not get in. Also still have no idea how you hack your own friend 1 chapter into the game. 🙁
Unavengedavo
May 28, 2014 at 10:12
Lol… how could they not see this coming? O_O
Rags
May 28, 2014 at 10:13
Now Ubisoft is the whurst company in the whuldz.
Bring back shareware! :<
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
May 28, 2014 at 10:15
THE WURST
http://ais.badische-zeitung.de/piece/01/54/a9/d5/22325717.jpg
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
May 28, 2014 at 10:15
THE WURST
http://ais.badische-zeitung.de/piece/01/54/a9/d5/22325717.jpg
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
May 28, 2014 at 10:15
THE WURST
http://ais.badische-zeitung.de/piece/01/54/a9/d5/22325717.jpg
Admiral Chief in Space
May 28, 2014 at 10:17
Now I’m hungry….where is the toast?
Mossel
May 28, 2014 at 10:37
The sight of that juicy wurst also made my mouth water. Yes, yes she also said that.
Anon A Mouse
May 28, 2014 at 10:45
Just not to you 😉
Mossel
May 28, 2014 at 10:46
hehe. #foreversp
hendrik
May 28, 2014 at 10:41
First Danke, and now Wurst! Are you a German Mr Tim? – Love, from Germany 🙂
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
May 28, 2014 at 10:14
Aaaaaaaand this is why I don’t buy day 1. Ever. This incompetence is what drives me to wait for games to go on special and to play once hype and server destruction is over.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
May 28, 2014 at 10:14
Aaaaaaaand this is why I don’t buy day 1. Ever. This incompetence is what drives me to wait for games to go on special and to play once hype and server destruction is over.
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
May 28, 2014 at 10:14
Aaaaaaaand this is why I don’t buy day 1. Ever. This incompetence is what drives me to wait for games to go on special and to play once hype and server destruction is over.
Stefan
May 28, 2014 at 10:15
Typo in the last paragraph
“It get what it’s trying to be” – I am gathering you meant “I” unless we really are actually talking about cousin IT here then my bad 🙂
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
May 28, 2014 at 10:17
Danke.
Brady miaau
May 28, 2014 at 10:17
Nah, great sentence, just add an s after get
Stefan
May 28, 2014 at 10:15
Typo in the last paragraph
“It get what it’s trying to be” – I am gathering you meant “I” unless we really are actually talking about cousin IT here then my bad 🙂
Stefan
May 28, 2014 at 10:15
Typo in the last paragraph
“It get what it’s trying to be” – I am gathering you meant “I” unless we really are actually talking about cousin IT here then my bad 🙂
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 28, 2014 at 10:18
uPlay. WOFT. Still better than Origin.
Uberutang
May 28, 2014 at 10:18
NO!
Origin at least passively update games, like Steam.
UPLAY you need to launch a game to find out that there was another patch to download first.
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 28, 2014 at 10:21
Never encountered that. Then again, I only buy their games a year or 2 down the line anyway.
Uberutang
May 28, 2014 at 10:23
Yeah they don’t ‘scan’ for game updates. Once you launch a game it checks for updates. Very retarded.
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 28, 2014 at 10:31
Definitely. But I prefer that over having an entirely different service just for one publishers games. That just irritates me for some reason.
Viking Of Science
May 28, 2014 at 10:20
Why Didn’t they just ship it WITHOUT uplay. did they not see how well received Stick of truth was BECAUSE it had no uplay? ubi pls.
Hammersteyn
May 28, 2014 at 10:22
Because piracy
VampyreSquirrel
May 28, 2014 at 10:25
I shall use Piracy to get the game to run without uPlay after I buy it!
Viking Of Science
May 28, 2014 at 10:27
And there’s the rub, because of the issues, People who BUY the game, have to pirate cracked exe files to make the game bloody work….
VampyreSquirrel
May 28, 2014 at 10:29
Yep… add DRM to fight piracy, then DRM service is SCREWED, so you crack a bought game… makes sense LOL
Hammersteyn
May 28, 2014 at 10:28
Exactly, they end up punishing people who buy the game.
Viking Of Science
May 28, 2014 at 10:25
Oh like they can fight Piracy with DRM, that’s like fighting E.Honda with a fish.
Hammersteyn
May 28, 2014 at 10:27
LOL
Kromas
May 28, 2014 at 10:20
You wanna know what is sad about this. Blizzard App,Origin and Uplay pretty much only support their respective publishers games and have the most issues. Steam supports everyone who wants to publish on Steam and they have way less server related issues than the rest.
#SteamyLove!
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 28, 2014 at 10:38
Pretty funny now that you mention it.
MakeItLegal
May 28, 2014 at 11:25
Indeed …. Ha ha people should learn from steam not copy them
Better yet shut down their services and have it as sub pages underneath a steam page
RinceofFuturePast
May 28, 2014 at 10:20
PC Ma… What was that?
Hammersteyn
May 28, 2014 at 10:21
Master Race indeed, when they are able to play their games.
RinceofFuturePast
May 28, 2014 at 10:21
Oi, I already went there! HAHAHA! 😉
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 28, 2014 at 10:21
Would you like a cookie?
RinceofFuturePast
May 28, 2014 at 10:22
Yes please. Though I have already had cheesecake with coffee for breakfast.
Hammersteyn
May 28, 2014 at 10:23
Here I am chowing day old sandwiches.
RinceofFuturePast
May 28, 2014 at 10:23
Shame bro. There is more cake downstairs. I’ll have another piece for you 😉
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 28, 2014 at 10:23
Oh, well in that case you’ve been punished enough.
RinceofFuturePast
May 28, 2014 at 10:24
Well, there is more, so I may punish myself more 0-O
VampyreSquirrel
May 28, 2014 at 10:25
Don’t give him a cookie… he’ll get it wet.
RinceofFuturePast
May 28, 2014 at 10:26
Too soon 🙁
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 28, 2014 at 10:28
lol NO. I’M NOT GOING THERE.
RinceofFuturePast
May 28, 2014 at 10:29
Pick your mind up our of the gutta!
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 28, 2014 at 10:37
*out
Look @illuchnemancera:disqus
RinceofFuturePast
May 28, 2014 at 11:03
Oh please bitch, stop trying to hustle in on @illuchnemancera:disqus and my private jokes. You outsider.
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 28, 2014 at 11:10
That’s just mean. You’re like the uPlay of friends.
RinceofFuturePast
May 28, 2014 at 11:11
That explains where there’s no connection 😛 Tehehehe
VampyreSquirrel
May 28, 2014 at 10:30
I’m talking about the waterfall that attacked him laptop… SERIOUSLY man… too early for you to go there! lol
RinceofFuturePast
May 28, 2014 at 10:32
It’s never too early for him to go there 😛 HIS* LOL (repay for FB comment 😛 )
VampyreSquirrel
May 28, 2014 at 10:35
lol yeah I suppose so… and I guess I asked for that one lmao
Uberutang
May 28, 2014 at 10:22
Master of the Race here: I play just fine thanks. With PC there is ALWAYS a way to play. You are never at the mercy of another system, unless you choose to be.
Admiral Chief in Space
May 28, 2014 at 10:23
Well said
Hammersteyn
May 28, 2014 at 10:24
True, there’s A way to play. You just need to read forums, email the game company support division, update drivers maybe then you’re golden
RinceofFuturePast
May 28, 2014 at 10:24
Which is why ‘Uplay’ LOL.
Kromas
May 28, 2014 at 10:24
Just replace Apple with the console of your choice.
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 28, 2014 at 10:36
LOL
Admiral Chief in Space
May 28, 2014 at 10:22
I actually tried to play Blood Dragon last night for the first time, uPlay didn’t seem to update, so promptly quit and finished 400 days
Uberutang
May 28, 2014 at 10:25
Any of you remember when ubisifoft was ‘caught’ using a ‘pirate’ fix as an official patch for one of their games?
Kensei Seraph
May 28, 2014 at 11:44
I know nothing about this, but I would love to know more.
Umar's Crown
May 28, 2014 at 10:29
UPlay, treating you like a criminal since it’s conception
Ryanza
May 28, 2014 at 10:42
I game on the PC and I do not buy Ubisoft games nor do Ubisoft games interest me at all because of DRM and Uplay.
Do not support DRM.
MakeItLegal
May 28, 2014 at 11:07
I was in cna looking at the box , my gut said , hang on there boy … Jeez I am glad I Hung on , 3 or 6 months time will pick this up no problem
oVgeeeeee Comet Drop
May 28, 2014 at 11:12
…
http://media.giphy.com/media/MdXXZh65YfC7e/giphy.gif
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 28, 2014 at 11:13
Upgraded your ship fully yet? 😛
oVgeeeeee Comet Drop
May 28, 2014 at 15:34
Traded it in. Never buying an Ubisoft game ever again.
Vlam
May 28, 2014 at 11:19
I bought the game on disc and had to install 3 times for uPlay to actually pick up the installation, after that it was smooth sailing
V@mp
May 28, 2014 at 11:29
I tried for almost 2 hours last night just to get the game activated. Eventually just downloaded the bloody UPlay crack because I got tired of making up new curse words.
Then of course struggled to get the performance up to par. Is this game just really badly optimized? Man, haven’t struggled this much to get smooth framerates in ages.
Normally I can just click ULTRA and play :-/
Tauriq Moosa
May 28, 2014 at 13:22
I hate that pirates are probably playing this no problem, but people who paid hard-earned cash are not. I understand Ubi must’ve prepared for this – it makes no sense to get bad rap again and again, since this could lead people toward piracy and also castigation from sites. No one wants negative publicity in this; and Ubisoft aren’t “lazy”, as I’ve seen, since, according to some reports I’ve seen, there’s only so much preparation they can have or prepare for.
It’s unfortunate all around and it’s pretty silly you need uPlay at all. Perhaps they could’ve undermined this problem by ignoring it altogether – but if you want to experience full throated brilliance of the game, online is essential. (Don’t even get me started on the nonsense that is the mobile App).
Wyzak
May 28, 2014 at 13:23
My Uplay went into offline mode without any hassles. Ran Watch Dogs without a glitch during the server issues last night. So not sure about your facts.
Tauriq Moosa
May 28, 2014 at 13:25
Typo: “to play the game they’ve bough”
Aries
May 28, 2014 at 15:08
Been having this problem this yesterday, struggle to log in and decide to play offline only to see my saved gameplay gone, it really a crappy app
dellers
May 29, 2014 at 01:31
Uplay itself isn’t really an issue for me, but Ubisoft’s servers are. Atm synching savegames is problematic and the multiplayer is not working whatsoever, it’s just not possible to connect to the servers. Really, really disappointing since the multiplayer features I was looking forward to were the invasion modes. Those won’t be that interesting when people have completed the single player, since the point is to invade people while they’re playing by themselves.
Lothy
May 29, 2014 at 09:09
I blame Zenimax!
Michael Reed
May 29, 2014 at 11:44
Not having any issues, was able to play Watch_Dogs on launch day once I had installed it. Only issue I am having is that my saved games aren’t being synced with the cloud but that isn’t a big issues for me.
enoch
May 29, 2014 at 13:46
I made a Uplay account specifically to play Watchdogs but I keep getting the “this code has already been used” message. Now I can’t even log into Uplay cause the servers are “unavailable” lol all this hype from Ubisoft but they can’t even manage high traffic servers. Congrats Ubisoft for fucking up something so simple. They talked the talk but obviously can not walk the walk. Someone fucking kill Uplay with fire for shitting itself before it even ate. Fucking fail.
abhi2234
May 30, 2014 at 16:45
waste of money cant even login to uplay piece of garbage