In our previous report, we mentioned that Steam decided to implement a warning informing gamers that they are purchasing a license for the product, not the game itself. This announcement has disappointed many gamers, as it means that Steam can remove any game from users’ libraries with no recourse. In practice, it feels like renting the game, with no control over its availability once it’s discontinued.
This is exactly what happened with The Crew. Ubisoft recently removed the game from players’ libraries. However, it looks like this could lead to serious headaches for the company.
In March 2024, Ubisoft shut down the servers for The Crew, rendering both its multiplayer and single-player modes inaccessible. This move sparked outrage from fans, leading two players, Matthew Cassel and Alan Liu, to file a class action lawsuit against Ubisoft, as reported by Polygon based on court documents. The plaintiffs argue that Ubisoft misled customers by selling the game as a full product, when it was actually just a license to access a remote server. They also claim Ubisoft failed to disclose the risk of the game becoming unplayable once the servers were shut down, unlike other Ubisoft titles that received offline modes after similar server closures. The lawsuit seeks over $5 million in damages, and a group of modders has announced plans to revive the game.
What do you think? Are you comfortable with buying a license instead of owning a game? What’s your opinion on companies removing features or deleting games once they start to age? Let us know in the comments!
