Ubisoft Sued Over The Crew: Claims Buyers Don't Own Games

Ubisoft has made it clear that purchasing a game does not grant players "unfettered ownership rights," but rather a "limited license to access the game." This statement was part of their defense in a legal battle initiated by two players of The Crew, who sued the company after it shut down the original racing game in 2023.

The original The Crew, released in 2014, is now completely unplayable. As of the end of March 2024, all servers for the game were shut down, rendering both physical and digital copies inaccessible, regardless of prior ownership.

While Ubisoft took steps to develop offline versions for The Crew 2 and its sequel The Crew: Motorfest, allowing continued play, no such measures were implemented for the first game. This decision led to legal action from two gamers at the end of last year, who argued they believed they were purchasing permanent ownership of The Crew, not just a limited license.

The lawsuit likened the situation to buying a pinball machine only to find it stripped of essential parts years later. The plaintiffs accused Ubisoft of violating several California laws, including False Advertising, Unfair Competition, and Consumer Legal Remedies Acts, as well as common law fraud and breach of warranty. They also pointed out that the game's activation code suggested playability until 2099, which they interpreted as a promise of long-term access.

In response, Ubisoft's legal team argued that consumers were fully aware they were buying a license, not permanent ownership. They highlighted that the game's packaging on Xbox and PlayStation included a prominent notice that Ubisoft could terminate access to online features with 30 days' notice.

Ubisoft has filed a motion to dismiss the case, but if unsuccessful, the plaintiffs are prepared for a jury trial. Meanwhile, digital marketplaces like Steam have begun to explicitly inform customers that they are purchasing a license, not a game, following a new California law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. This law mandates clear disclosure of the nature of digital purchases but does not prevent companies from discontinuing access to content.