Ubisoft Doubles Down on Players Not Owning Digital Games in The Crew Lawsuit

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By November 2024, Ubisoft’s legal team found themselves dealing with a class-action lawsuit that was initiated after the closure of The Crew, a multiplayer online racing game offering live services, which resulted in its removal from service for everyone.

The lawsuit claimed that Ubisoft misled gamers into thinking they were purchasing a game outright, when in fact they were only buying a right to play it. Ubisoft defended their position, stating this was just a license for gameplay. Recently, in the ongoing court case, Ubisoft’s lawyers have reaffirmed their stance, and the accusers have countered with additional arguments.

It’s Not ‘Unfettered Ownership’

According to a document uncovered by Polygon (and neatly transcribed), it came to light that Ubisoft’s persistent legal team requested the California court to dismiss the case. The team argued (and emphasized) that customers received the value of their purchase and were informed, at the time they bought the product, that they were obtaining a license.

Per the original claim from the plaintiffs:

According to reports, Ubisoft Inc. may have given buyers of the game ‘The Crew’ a false impression about their purchase. Instead of buying unrestricted ownership rights, it appears they were actually obtaining a limited permit to play the game.

In the latest modifications to the class-action lawsuit, the plaintiffs are relying on California’s legal guidelines concerning the sale of gift certificates. Their aim is to argue that they were unfairly deprived of digital currency, since in California, gift cards cannot expire. However, any in-game credits players possessed when The Crew was discontinued did indeed vanish, contrary to this rule in California.

In January 2024, Philippe Tremblay, Ubisoft’s Director of Subscriptions, publicly discussed the shift in gaming from tangible to digital formats. He proposed that gamers should grow accustomed to not possessing their games but rather obtaining temporary licenses to play them instead.

Today, gamers still remember those remarks, and people on various social media outlets across the globe often tease Ubisoft enthusiasts by commenting that they are merely renting their games.

Due to recent modifications in the class-action lawsuit, Ubisoft now has an extended period to present their response. Keep an eye out for updates on this case as the deadline for new developments is set for April 29th.

Are you inclined to agree with Ubisoft’s stance, or do you side with those who argue for the concept of digital ownership being equivalent to unconditional ownership? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below or on the TopMob forum.

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2025-04-10 10:18