Ubisoft says owners will "still be able to access" delisted games amid Assassin's Creed review-bomb

Assassin's Creed Liberation
(Image credit: Ubisoft)

Update 2: Ubisoft now says that the games set to be decommissioned later this year, including Assassin's Creed Liberation HD, will continue to be available for players who purchased them to play directly.

"As stated in our support article, only DLCs and online features will be affected by the upcoming decommissioning," the company says in a statement to GamesRadar+. "Current owners of those games will still be able to access, play or redownload them.

"Our teams are working with our partners to update this information across all storefronts and are also assessing all available options for players who will be impacted when these games’ online services are decommissioned on September 1st, 2022. It has always been our intention to do everything in our power to allow those legacy titles to remain available in the best possible conditions for players, and this is what we are working towards."

Update: Ubisoft has confirmed that Assassin's Creed Liberation HD and three other titles are being "decommissioned" in September. The publisher issued the following statement to GamesRadar+:

"We don't take the decision to retire services for older Ubisoft games lightly, and our teams are currently assessing all available options for players who will be impacted when these games' online services are decommissioned on September 1st, 2022.

It added, "We are also working with our partners to update this information across all storefronts, so players will be fully informed about the removal of online services at the point of purchase as well as via our support article where we shared the news."

Original story: Assassin's Creed fans are review-bombing the spin-off game Assassin's Creed Liberation that's set to be rendered unplayable in just two months. 

Take a trip to the Assassin's Creed Liberation HD Steam page, and you'll be met with a message that reads, "At the request of the publisher, Assassin's Creed Liberation HD is no longer available for sale on Steam." What's worse is that if you've previously bought the game, you'll find yourself unable to play it in just a few weeks as it "will not be accessible following September 1st, 2022."

Ubisoft hasn't given the reason behind its decision, but the date does coincide with the company's plan to pull the plug on the online services for some of its older games. Still, as Liberation HD is a single-player-only game, its sudden delisting is an odd move by the publisher, especially so considering you won't be able to play it even if you've parted with cash to do so.

The Assassin's Creed Liberation HD Steam reviews show that overall the game has received a "mixed" reception from fans. Unsurprisingly, recent reviews have been "mostly negative" in light of Ubisoft's actions. "I basically bought a digital paperweight. Thanks, Ubi," said one reviewer. Another wrote, "Great reason to never buy anything from Ubisoft ever again." This sentiment is shared by many Steam users, including Spider9928, who said, "Ubisoft, I won't be purchasing another game from you until you can confirm that we can play the games we bought and owned. Until then, I am done with you."

Assassin's Creed 3 Liberation originally launched in 2012 as a PS Vita exclusive. The remake arrived two years later on PS3, Xbox 360 and PC. A spin-off of Assassin's Creed 3, the game tells the tale of Assassin Aveline de Grandpré, the series' first female protagonist, and her fight against the Templars. For those still wanting to experience Aveline's adventure on Steam, Assassin's Creed Liberation is included as part of Assassin's Creed 3 Remastered. At the time of writing, this version is still available and seemingly unaffected.

Following Ubisoft's decision to turn off the multiplayer servers for 15 of its games, one developer is fighting against the publisher to keep its game online. Ubisoft Mainz plans to keep the full Anno 2070 experience intact by using some of its own development resources to upgrade the game's ageing infrastructure to ensure its online services remain alive and kicking.

Not sure which games in Ubisoft's long-running stealth series are worth your time? Wonder no more, as we've ranked the best Assassin's Creed games

Anne-Marie Ostler
Freelance Writer

Originally from Ireland, I moved to the UK in 2014 to pursue a Games Journalism and PR degree at Staffordshire University. Following that, I've freelanced for GamesMaster, Games TM, Official PlayStation Magazine and, more recently, Play and GamesRadar+. My love of gaming sprang from successfully defeating that first Goomba in Super Mario Bros on the NES. These days, PlayStation is my jam. When not gaming or writing, I can usually be found scouring the internet for anything Tomb Raider related to add to my out of control memorabilia collection.

With contributions from
Read more
Upcoming Ubisoft games: Naoe targeting an enemy in the new game Assassin's Creed Shadows.
Upcoming Ubisoft games: Every new Ubisoft game in development
A close-up of a slightly older Bayek from Assassin's Creed Origins.
2 months later, Assassin's Creed Origins is getting pounded with negative Steam reviews because the Windows update that broke it still isn't fixed
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Infinity: Everything you need to know about the Animus Hub
XDefiant gameplay screenshot showing gunfight
Ubisoft reportedly in talks for yet more buyout consideration on the heels of another high-profile flop with XDefiant's pending shutdown
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows: Everything we know about Ubisoft's new RPG
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
If Assassin's Creed Shadows' delay means lessons have been learned from Star Wars Outlaws, I say: let Ubisoft cook
Latest in Assassin's Creed
Assassin's Creed Odyssey screenshot of Kassandra admiring a blade
Assassin's Creed's Kassandra stole the show in Odyssey, popped up in Valhalla, and she's still "very much alive" during AC Shadows
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Assassin's Creed Shadows will take upwards of 80 hours for completionists, creative director confirms, and Ubisoft is considering adding New Game+ post launch
Assassin's Creed Shadows screenshot showing female protagonist Naoe
I figured Assassin's Creed Shadows' Red Bull collab would just be some naff cosmetics, but it's actually a pair of surprisingly useful gameplay boons for Naoe and Yasuke
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
In Assassin's Creed Shadows, "Naoe and Yasuke share their progression" and you'll have to complete special quests to get the best abilities
Fujibayashi Naoe looks at her father's hidden blade in Assassin's Creed Shadows as he bestows it to her
Assassin's Creed Shadows has guaranteed one-shot assassinations, but you have to turn them on in the options
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
You can 100% Assassin's Creed Shadows achievements as either one of the open-world RPG's playable characters, and on any difficulty too
Latest in News
Frieren: Beyond Journey's End season 2 visual
One of the best fantasy anime in recent years gets January 2026 release window for season 2
Helldivers 2 Ultimatum
Helldivers 2 has a Major Order problem, but the solution isn't simple because "having 100% participation means the MOs will always be won and that introduces other issues"
Terraforming Mars TTRPG logo on top art of mars colonists
Terraforming Mars TTRPG crowdfund hits almost $200,000 in one day as fans flock to name a space city after themselves
Ticket to Rde and Catan art side by side
Two legendary essentials for your board game collection are better than half price right now
Spider-Man: No Way Home
Daredevil: Born Again episode 1 references Spider-Man, and Marvel fans are excited about what it might mean for the future
Robert Pattinson in Mickey 17
Mickey 17 director Bong Joon Ho would love to tackle the book's sequel too, but has a "plethora of new, weird ideas" he wants to make first