Assassin’s Creed Animus Hub Might Complicate Earning Xbox Achievements

I truly can’t stand Call of Duty HQ, and I have this nagging concern that Ubisoft might follow Activision’s footsteps with a similar launcher system for Assassin’s Creed, turning future game achievements into DLC packs. My hope is that the achievements for Assassin’s Creed Shadows won’t get tangled up in a confusing new launcher setup, mixed with lists from other new games. It just wouldn’t be the right call.

Back in 2023, with the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, Activision introduced Call of Duty HQ, a launcher that has been met with widespread negativity among fans and those who love collecting achievements and trophies. Now, if you want to dive into Modern Warfare II, Modern Warfare III, Black Ops 6, or Warzone, you’re required to navigate through Call of Duty HQ first before you can actually start playing the game you choose.

Activision, I just want to launch the game I’m interested in without this extra step. It’s frustrating to have to open another application just to get where I want. Sure, it might be only a minor inconvenience, but not when HQ mandates an internet connection, constant updates, and numerous annoying restarts.

The worst part of HQ? Activision has mashed together the Xbox achievement lists for Modern Warfare II, Modern Warfare III, and Black Ops 6 into one enormous list. The days of having distinct lists for each title are gone. Now, obtaining full completion demands purchasing and finishing all three games.

And as is predictable with a new Call of Duty entry each year (death, taxes, and a yearly CoD—some of life’s certainties), you’ll find yourself needing to finish that new game’s achievement list to retain your pristine 100%. PlayStation folks have their own woes too since the launcher can only attach one platinum trophy. This means Modern Warfare III and Black Ops 6 on PS5 have both released without their own platinum trophies.

My apprehension grows that Ubisoft might adopt a similar path with its upcoming Animus Hub. Back in 2022, Ubisoft revealed plans for the Animus Hub (initially named Assassin’s Creed Infinity), pictured by their Marc-Alexis Côté as the unified gateway for fans into the Assassin’s Creed universe.

Launching with Assassin’s Creed Shadows, the Animus Hub is meant to be the platform for accessing Shadows and all subsequent Assassin’s Creed titles, including Assassin’s Creed Codename Hexe. While Ubisoft is keeping the specifics about the Animus Hub under wraps, the concept strikes me as a bit too reminiscent of Call of Duty HQ.

Could Ubisoft decide to take a different road with the Animus Hub, presenting each game with its own tidy achievement list? It’s certainly possible. Yet, with many developers now viewing Xbox achievements and PlayStation trophies as secondary, my gut feeling tells me that’s unlikely, and we might see another massive Assassin’s Creed Animus Hub list, which would be a real pity.

Stay tuned to find out more details about Assassin’s Creed Shadows. I’m curious to hear your opinions on the potential Animus Hub. Share your thoughts down in the comments!