I really can’t stand Call of Duty HQ, and it’s got me nervous about what Ubisoft might do next. Just like Activision, they could take the Animus Hub route, turning future Assassin’s Creed games and their Xbox achievements into DLC packs. Fingers crossed, the achievements for Assassin’s Creed Shadows don’t end up buried in some overly complicated launcher system, mixed up with other lists for new games. That would be a bad call.
With the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III in 2023, Activision introduced Call of Duty HQ, a dedicated launcher that hasn’t exactly won fans over—especially folks who enjoy hunting achievements and trophies. If you’re looking to dive into Modern Warfare II, Modern Warfare III, Black Ops 6, or Warzone, you’ve got to go through Call of Duty HQ, search for your game, and then launch it.
Why not just let us start the game directly, Activision? It’s maddening to have to use a separate app just to play a game. This annoyance would be tolerable if it didn’t demand a constant online connection, endless updates, and frequent frustrating restarts.
But the real kicker? They’ve rolled the Xbox achievements for Modern Warfare II, Modern Warfare III, and Black Ops 6 into one gigantic list. Rather than having separate lists for each game, there’s now a massive one that requires buying and completing all three to tick everything off.
And with each yearly Call of Duty release—a sure thing as death, taxes, and a new CoD game—you’re obliged to tackle the new achievements to maintain that perfect 100%. It seems like PlayStation players have it even tougher. Since the launcher can only accommodate one platinum trophy, both Modern Warfare III and Black Ops 6 on PS5 launched with none.
I’m really concerned that Ubisoft will echo Activision’s approach with their upcoming Animus Hub. Announced back in 2022, the Animus Hub (previously called Assassin’s Creed Infinity) is set to be, as Ubisoft’s Marc-Alexis Côté put it, the “single entry point” for fans of the series.
Once Assassin’s Creed Shadows rolls out, the Animus Hub is expected to be the launching pad for Shadows and all new Assassin’s Creed games, including Assassin’s Creed Codename Hexe. The details are sparse, but it’s all sounding a bit too familiar, almost like Call of Duty HQ.
There’s a chance Ubisoft could take a different path with the Animus Hub, giving us individual and tidy achievement lists for each game. Unfortunately, with many developers treating Xbox achievements and PlayStation trophies as an afterthought lately, I’m doubtful. We might end up with an Assassin’s Creed mega list instead, and that would be a real disappointment.
To catch up on the latest about the Assassin’s Creed series, see what we know about Assassin’s Creed Shadows. How do you feel about the upcoming Animus Hub? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
