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

Ubisoft has firmly stated that purchasing a game does not grant players "unfettered ownership rights" but rather a "limited license to access the game." This stance was articulated as the company moved to dismiss a lawsuit filed by two dissatisfied players of The Crew, who challenged Ubisoft's decision to discontinue the original racing game in 2023.

As of the end of March 2024, The Crew from 2014 is no longer playable. This applies to all versions of the game, be they physical or digital, and regardless of prior ownership. Ubisoft has taken steps to provide offline versions of The Crew 2 and The Crew: Motorfest, ensuring continued play for these titles, but did not extend the same courtesy to the original game.

Late last year, two gamers initiated legal action against Ubisoft, asserting they believed they were purchasing outright ownership of The Crew rather than merely a limited license. The lawsuit used a compelling analogy, likening the situation to buying a pinball machine only to find it stripped of 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 also argued that Ubisoft violated state laws regarding gift cards, which should not expire. The gamers presented evidence of activation codes for the game that supposedly do not expire until 2099, suggesting a promise of long-term playability.

Ubisoft, however, counters these claims, asserting that consumers were clearly informed at the time of purchase that they were acquiring a license, not permanent ownership. Ubisoft's legal team emphasized that Xbox and PlayStation packaging included a "clear and conspicuous notice" that Ubisoft could terminate access to online features with 30 days' notice.

The company has filed a motion to dismiss the case. Should the motion fail and the lawsuit proceed, the plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial.

In related developments, platforms like Steam have begun to explicitly inform customers that they are purchasing a license rather than owning the game outright. This change follows a California law, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, mandating digital marketplaces to clarify the nature of digital purchases as licenses. While this law does not stop companies from removing content, it requires them to be transparent about the terms of the purchase.