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

Ubisoft has made it clear that purchasing a game does not equate to "unfettered ownership rights" but rather grants players a "limited license to access the game." This statement emerged as the company sought to dismiss a lawsuit initiated by two dissatisfied players of The Crew, following Ubisoft's decision to shut down the original racing game in 2023.

As of the end of March 2024, The Crew is no longer playable. Whether you own a physical or digital copy, the game is inaccessible due to servers going dark completely. Ubisoft did take steps to develop offline versions for The Crew 2 and The Crew: Motorfest, allowing continued play, but no such effort was made for the original game.

Towards the end of last year, two gamers took Ubisoft to court, arguing that they believed they were "paying to own and possess the video game The Crew" rather than merely purchasing a "limited license to use The Crew." The lawsuit likened the situation to buying a pinball machine, only to find it stripped of its essential components years later.

As reported by Polygon, the plaintiffs accused Ubisoft of breaching California's False Advertising Law, Unfair Competition Law, and Consumer Legal Remedies Act, along with claims of "common law fraud and breach of warranty." They further alleged that Ubisoft violated California's laws regarding gift cards, which cannot expire. The plaintiffs also presented images showing an activation code for The Crew with an expiration date of 2099, suggesting to them that the game would remain playable well into the future.

Ubisoft, however, disagrees with these claims. Their legal team argued that the plaintiffs believed they were buying perpetual access to the game, and were upset because Ubisoft did not provide an offline patch when the servers were shut down. Ubisoft insists that consumers were clearly informed at the time of purchase that they were acquiring a license, not ownership. The company highlighted that the Xbox and PlayStation packaging included a prominent notice, in all capital letters, stating that Ubisoft could cancel access to online features with 30 days' notice.

Ubisoft has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit. Should the motion fail, the plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial.

Notably, platforms like Steam now feature a clear warning to customers that they are purchasing a license, not a game. This change follows a California law signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, mandating digital marketplaces to disclose the licensing nature of digital purchases. While this law doesn't prevent companies from revoking access to content, it ensures customers are informed about the nature of their purchase beforehand.