The company is now focusing on free-to-play products for the PC platform

Aug 23, 2012 10:31 GMT  ·  By

Ubisoft has once again complained of the high piracy rate on the PC platform, saying that it’s much better to launch free-to-play experiences instead of regular games, as over 90% of people pirate its titles.

The PC platform is experiencing a resurgence in terms of activity and popularity but companies still avoid it due to the ongoing problem of piracy.

Ubisoft is one of the biggest publishers who complain about piracy, saying that over 90% of PC gamers pirate its titles.

As such, the company is now focusing its PC efforts on free-to-play experiences, according to president Yves Guillemot.

"We want to develop the PC market quite a lot and F2P is really the way to do it," the executive told GamesIndustry.

Ubisoft already has quite a few free games online, including the recently released Ghost Recon Online shooter, as well as The Settlers Online.

While very few players actually spend money on items in such free games, Guillemot reveals that it’s practically the same as releasing a regular PC game.

"On PC it's only around five to seven per cent of the players who pay for free-to-play, but normally on PC it's only about five to seven per cent who pay anyway, the rest is pirated," he said. "It's around a 93-95 per cent piracy rate, so it ends up at about the same percentage as free-to-play".

Sadly, Ubisoft forgets that it hasn’t exactly supported the PC platform in great ways, as most of its titles are usually delayed, like the upcoming Assassin’s Creed 3.

When they do reach the PC, the games are also burdened with restrictive digital rights management programs that are supposed to prevent piracy but only end up annoying legal customers. Meanwhile, those who pirate Ubisoft’s games usually end up with a less annoying experience.