I have a real bone to pick with Call of Duty HQ, and I can’t shake the feeling that Ubisoft might pull a similar stunt with the Animus Hub for future Assassin’s Creed games, potentially reducing Xbox achievements to mere DLC packs. My dread is palpable when I think about Assassin’s Creed Shadows achievements possibly getting tangled up in some new launcher system, scattered among other entries. It feels like a misstep waiting to happen.
Sean jumps in with a plea to Ubisoft: steer clear of Activision’s troublesome path with Call of Duty HQ. When 2023’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III hit the scene, Activision introduced Call of Duty HQ, their go-to launcher for the franchise. It’s safe to say it hasn’t won any popularity contests among Call of Duty devotees or achievement enthusiasts. Instead of jumping straight into Modern Warfare II, Modern Warfare III, Black Ops 6, or Warzone, fans face a labyrinthine detour through Call of Duty HQ to find their game of choice.
All I wish for is a straightforward launch experience, Activision. Why am I forced to navigate a separate application every time I want to dive into my game? The ordeal would be a minor bother if HQ wasn’t constantly demanding an online connection, regular updates, and those pesky restarts.
Yet, the most aggravating aspect of HQ is how Activision has lumped together the achievement lists for Modern Warfare II, Modern Warfare III, and Black Ops 6 on Xbox. Instead of enjoying separate lists, players confront a massive collection of achievements, compelling them to not only buy but also complete all three games to achieve 100%.
And let’s not forget the PlayStation crowd – talk about a raw deal. Since the launcher can only accommodate a single platinum trophy, Modern Warfare III and Black Ops 6 on PS5 have been shortchanged, launching without any platinums at all.
As we pivot to Ubisoft’s potential move with the Animus Hub, there’s a lingering fear that they’ll mimic Activision’s HQ approach. Back in 2022, Ubisoft unveiled the Animus Hub, which was previously dubbed Assassin’s Creed Infinity. According to Ubisoft’s Marc-Alexis Côté, it’s set to be the one-stop shop for Assassin’s Creed fans.
Accompanying Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the Animus Hub promises to be a launcher for Shadows and future releases, including Assassin’s Creed Codename Hexe. Although details remain sparse, it’s easy to draw parallels between the Animus Hub and Call of Duty HQ.
There’s still hope that Ubisoft might forge a different path with the Animus Hub, offering distinct achievement lists for each game. But with tendencies leaning towards treating Xbox achievements and PlayStation trophies as mere footnotes, I have my doubts and dread the likelihood of an unwieldy mega list for Assassin’s Creed.
Curious about what lies ahead for the Assassin’s Creed series? Dive into everything we know about Assassin’s Creed Shadows. And hey, what’s your take on the forthcoming Animus Hub? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
