Ubisoft's cross-platform DLC faces problems when the main game isn't available on the same systems.
Ubisoft's cross-platform DLC faces problems when the main game isn't available on the same systems.
Hello everyone, I’m just a newcomer here. I think it’s better to stay on r/rant rather than risk showing corporate anti-consumer tactics, especially with Ubisoft. I bought the AC Origins Season Pass and FC 5 on their store for 14 euros using Indian rupees during a sale. My main game is on Steam, and this is my first time getting a DLC separately. Usually I buy everything together in a bundle. I wasn’t aware there was a problem with using DLCs across platforms—main games from third-party stores don’t work well with Ubisoft’s DLC system. When I checked their forum, I found out this issue has been around for a long time and hasn’t been fixed. There’s no warning or note about incompatibility in their product descriptions. It seems like other studios on non-Ubisoft platforms might face the same problem too. If Ubisoft really has this issue, why list all my purchased games from Steam, Epic, GOG under “Games”? I filed a support case and asked for a refund only on the Season Pass, not FC 5. After a couple days, they said they couldn’t give me a full refund because of the payment method and offered store vouchers worth 7 euros instead. They told me to wait 14 days. But I closed the ticket before getting the money back. I was worried they thought I’d given up on the refund. After 17 days, I reopened the case and asked about the voucher status. They said the refund never started because I closed the ticket. I had to accept their decision. Now I’m confused—why would they refuse a partial refund? I just started playing FC5 and now they’re acting like it’s impossible. Their emails repeated that no matter what, they can only offer a partial refund. This feels unfair. I’m frustrated because I thought I was following the process correctly. I hope they reconsider and let me keep my game. Linus, LMG Team, and the community—please highlight this if you see it on forums like Gamer’s Nexus or PCMR. This isn’t about getting a full refund; it’s about them pressuring you to chase something trivial. They should have offered at least a partial refund so I could keep my game.
The issue revolves around complex agreements between publishers and distributors. Each platform takes a cut and uses unique DRM systems that don’t work together. Sharing game data across platforms requires specific APIs, but licensing rules prevent seamless loading of games or DLCs. This lack of interoperability likely stems from legal and financial concerns, making it unlikely to be an unresolved problem.