Ubisoft, one of the leading publishers in the gaming world, has given a striking response to the rising reactions and lawsuits regarding the game The Crew, whose servers were shut down in 2024 and made it inaccessible. The company has started a new debate in the gaming community by arguing that players should not expect to own these games indefinitely when purchasing them online. This statement from Ubisoft has caused great anger and disappointment, especially among users who purchased the game legally, and has further fueled the existing debates.
The Crew's Farewell and the Players' Revolt
Ubisoft’s popular racing game The Crew was quietly removed from digital stores in December 2023, and then its servers were completely shut down on March 31, 2024, permanently blocking players from access. This sudden decision shocked thousands of players who had paid to own the game. The fact that a product they had purchased was rendered unusable by an arbitrary decision by the developer caused legitimate anger among players. Following this situation, two angry players who wanted to seek their rights initiated legal action against Ubisoft. The plaintiffs opposed Ubisoft’s defense that the game was not actually a permanent product purchased, but merely a temporary license granting access to Ubisoft’s servers.
“Misleading Marketing” Alleged in Lawsuit
In the lawsuit filed, the plaintiffs alleged that Ubisoft’s marketing strategy for both the physical and digital versions of the game was misleading. It was stated that the game’s physical box and digital store pages in particular created the impression that the game offered long-term and uninterrupted access. The players emphasized that it was unacceptable for the product they purchased to become unusable in such an unexpected way. The plaintiffs also claimed that the digital currency used in the game (Crew Credits) should be valid indefinitely according to California state law. These claims mean that Ubisoft is not only shutting down the game, but also devaluing the virtual assets players purchased in the game.
Ubisoft's "License" Defense and Activation Code Contradiction
Ubisoft, on the other hand, argued in its defense to the court that players should not expect permanent and indefinite ownership in such online games. The company's lawyers stated that access to The Crew was actually provided through a license agreement and that this was clearly stated in the user agreements. However, the plaintiffs presented an important argument to refute Ubisoft's defense. The players presented evidence showing that the activation codes found in the physical and digital versions of the game expire in 2099, contradicting Ubisoft's "temporary license" defense. This contradiction raises serious questions about how transparent Ubisoft's marketing strategy is.
Late Make-Up: Offline Modes Are On The Way
Following intense backlash and lawsuits from players, Ubisoft has announced that it will be developing offline modes for The Crew 2 and the newly released The Crew Motorfest game. The company stated that these new modes will provide players with long-term access. However, this move is being considered as “overdue compensation” by players who have purchased The Crew and can no longer play it. Players are stating that Ubisoft should have offered a similar offline mode for the first The Crew, so that their victimization can be prevented. Ubisoft’s decision can also be interpreted as a precaution to avoid similar reactions in the event that its online games are shut down in the future. However, this does not resolve past victimizations or ease the debate over Ubisoft’s approach to player rights.
