Ubisoft is in the eye of the storm after the closure of the servers for its MMO, The Crew, about two years ago. This decision caused players who purchased the title to lose access to it, even though they had bought it, which has generated considerable discontent among consumers.
In response, the Stop Killing Games movement has emerged, aiming to protect players from these unilateral decisions by creating laws in the European Union. So far, they have gathered over 1.2 million signatures to present a proposal to the European Commission.
A lawsuit that could set a precedent
The consumer association UFC-Que Choisir has filed a lawsuit against Ubisoft, arguing that the company engaged in misleading business practices. In their complaint, they point out that the closure of The Crew was not properly communicated to users, which they considered a violation of consumer protection legislation.
These arguments are exacerbated by the qualification of the contractual clauses that allowed the closure of the game as “abusive.” The group’s lawyer, Brune Blanc-Durand, has stated that the case is “particularly clear” from a legal standpoint.
Ubisoft, for its part, has defended its actions by stating that players acquired a “limited use license” instead of ownership of the game. They argue that after enjoying The Crew for years, players should not complain about its closure. Despite this, in response to growing consumer pressure, the company has committed to developing offline modes for other titles in The Crew saga.
Amid this controversy, methods have been developed by the fan community to play The Crew offline, although the future of the online game remains uncertain. The situation highlights a growing discontent within the gaming community and the need for a legal framework that protects their rights.