Apparently, UbiSoft wants to go out of business. RPS is reporting that all future UbiSoft PC games will require an constant online connection to play, no offline mode possible. Saved games will be stored on their servers.

http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2010...ays-be-online/

UbiSoft FAQ on the service.

So they will spend lots of money to maintain servers (which are guaranteed to crash on big releases), alienate and frustrate purchasers of their games, and not stop piracy at all. Sounds like a winning business plan.