The WAN Show: UBISOFT IS THE NEW EA! - June 20th, 2014

The WAN Show episode from June 20th, 2014 opens with Linus and the crew addressing audience expectations for a live stream, noting minor tech hiccups and the surprise YouTube integration for Twitch. The hosts pivot to Ubisoft and the Watch Dogs controversy, lamenting perceived missteps in PC treatment and signaling a broader discussion about industry practice. They acknowledge EA’s promised shift toward better early-stage quality control, while also noting continued questions around PC versus console parity and the viability of patches and downgrades. A recurring segment unfolds around Watch Dogs modding, with modders enabling legacy PC graphics settings and Ubisoft’s official response attempting to reassure that PC versions are not downgraded, though the debate on realism vs. performance persists. They contrast Watch Dogs with Far Cry 4, noting comments from Softpedia and Ubisoft Montreal, and argue that communications around PC fidelity have been messy, fueling consumer skepticism and distrust. The conversation broadens to the ethics of game demos, benchmarks, and the role of early access or patches in shaping launch perception, including the value of honest communication about what players can expect on day one. The show pivots to Titanfall on Origin Game Time, evaluating free weekend strategies versus traditional demos, and praising the concept of trying games before committing financially, while acknowledging concrete limitations and market realities. The panel discusses Nvidia hardware leaks and price speculation for the GTX 880 and 880 Ti, emphasizing how rumors often outrun official confirmation, and they caution against taking any single rumor as gospel. They celebrate forthcoming sponsor content and tease an Ask the Expert livestream with Intel Devil’s Canyon CPUs, signaling enthusiasm for direct engineer insight and live giveaways. Audience interaction flourishes through the Twitch chat and forum discussions, with Linus encouraging viewers to engage with the sponsor campaigns and share Squarespace sites for a chance to win a year of hosting. The hosts critique Ubisoft’s PR handling, including quotes from Watch Dogs press coverage and the broader pattern of public relations missteps, while also acknowledging EA’s stated intent to streamline development cycles and improve pre-launch testing, including Battlefield Hardline beta transparency. The discussion expands to the broader practice of marketing in gaming, including sponsorship transparency, YouTube monetization, and the balance between promotion and honest critique, with Linus stressing the importance of openness with the community. The show then dives into technical details around modding Watch Dogs, patch notes, and how older PC settings were disabled for stability, with the hosts noting that mods can re-enable features and may improve or degrade performance depending on the user configuration. They close the segment with a reflection on how a transparent, community-engaged approach,such as public roadmaps and early access testing,can rebuild trust, while acknowledging the risk of backlash if promises are broken. Toward the end, Linus teases a mountain-top collaboration with Tech Syndicate at Mount Elbert, outlining sponsor-backed logistics and the excitement around a new, high-profile content event, before returning to sponsor shoutouts and a call to action for Squarespace users to participate in a giveaway and to share their own Squarespace sites. The episode finishes with a reminder of upcoming streams, more sponsor content, and a reaffirmation of the channel’s commitment to candid, in-depth tech discussion despite the sensational headlines surrounding Ubisoft and Watch Dogs. The overall tone remains one of critical but constructive skepticism, urging the industry to prioritize product quality and truthful communication over hype, while celebrating genuine innovations in hardware, demos, and online community engagement.

Topics · gaming industry analysis · pc gaming · video commentary · consumer rights · digital distribution · technology news · sponsorships and marketing · software and hardware reviews