In a move that has sent shockwaves through the gaming community, two players have filed a lawsuit against Ubisoft, accusing the gaming giant of “duping” consumers into purchasing The Crew without informing them of an impending server shutdown that would render the online game unplayable. The lawsuit, filed in a California court, alleges that Ubisoft’s actions constitute a violation of the state’s consumer protection laws.
The crux of the lawsuit lies in two key claims: firstly, the gamers allege that Ubisoft misrepresented the game as a purchase when it was, in fact, a license. This means players only gained access to the game through a license agreement, not true ownership of the game files despite physically possessing a disc. Secondly, the lawsuit accuses Ubisoft of “falsely representing” that the game files for The Crew were freely accessible on the physical disc, implying that the disc itself contained the entire game rather than being a key for online access.
The lawsuit points to Ubisoft’s December 2022 announcement of the server shutdown for The Crew, which resulted in many players being unable to obtain refunds due to the age of the game. While Ubisoft did offer refunds to players who purchased the game “recently,” many gamers felt left in the lurch as they were unable to access the game they had bought.
This lawsuit raises significant questions about the nature of digital ownership in the gaming industry. While many games rely on servers for online functionality, the lawsuit argues that consumers should be explicitly informed about the potential for server shutdowns and the implications for access to their purchased games. It remains to be seen how this lawsuit will unfold, but it certainly highlights the need for greater transparency and clarity from game developers regarding the future accessibility of their titles.
It is important to note that the server shutdown does not affect The Crew 2 or The Crew Motorfest, the sequels to the original game. However, the lawsuit raises concerns about the potential for similar issues in future titles and the need for stronger consumer protections in the rapidly evolving gaming landscape.
