14 DAY TRIAL // Ubisoft's first attempt at implementing an online pass, the Uplay Passport, for its games, has experienced a pretty big problem, as many of the codes that need to be redeemed by owners of new game copies have been incorrectly printed on the physical vouchers, forcing Ubisoft to offer the Uplay Passport online for free.
Online passes are part of a growing trend in the gaming industry as companies want to prevent gamers from buying used copies of their titles, and thus require them to activate various components of the game, like the online mode, through a special voucher found within the game's case.
Ubisoft is the latest company to join this trend, as it announced a few months ago that the new Driver: San Francisco title will use a uPlay Passport system, in order to regulate access to its online mode.
Now, as the game is being released this week all over the world, many new owners are finding their Uplay Passport codes invalid.
Ubisoft is aware of the situation and, via CVG, confirmed that some of the codes weren't printed correctly on the vouchers. In order to accommodate this, the company is now offering the online pass for free, at least for the moment.
"Driver: San Francisco from Ubisoft requires a Uplay Passport code to unlock online multiplayer mode and the Film Director," an Xbox Live Support team member said, on behalf of Ubisoft. "Unfortunately the codes in some boxes were printed incorrectly, so when you try to redeem the code you get the following message: This code is invalid. Please enter a valid code."
As such, when you enter the online mode, you're presented with four options, either to Purchase a Uplay Passport, Activate one, Star a 2-day free trial or Remind Me Later. Ubisoft urges players to just select the Purchase a Uplay Passport option as their credit cards or account balances won't be charged for the transaction.
No word yet on if this issue affects PC or PlayStation 3 versions of the game, or when Ubisoft is going to start charging for the Uplay Passport, but stay tuned for more news in the next few days.