Ubisoft has clarified that purchasing a game grants players a "limited license to access the game," rather than full ownership rights. This statement arose amid the company's efforts to dismiss a lawsuit filed by two disgruntled The Crew players who accused Ubisoft of shutting down the original racing game last year. As of March 2024, The Crew is entirely unplayable, regardless of whether it was acquired physically, digitally, or already owned, due to servers being permanently deactivated.
While Ubisoft developed offline versions for The Crew 2 and its sequel, The Crew: Motorfest, no such measures were implemented for the original title. Last year, two gamers filed a lawsuit alleging they believed they were purchasing permanent ownership of The Crew, not a limited usage license. The plaintiffs compared the situation to buying a pinball machine only to find its essential components missing, referencing California laws regarding false advertising, unfair competition, and consumer remedies. They also cited an activation code implying perpetual playability until 2099.
Ubisoft countered by stating that consumers were informed of the limited license at the time of purchase, citing notices on Xbox and PlayStation packaging. Furthermore, the company referenced recent changes in California law requiring storefronts like Steam to inform buyers they are purchasing licenses, not ownership. Despite these disclosures, Ubisoft has moved to dismiss the case, with the plaintiffs requesting a jury trial if proceedings continue.
