Ubisoft is facing a class action lawsuit filed by two Californian gamers after the publisher’s decision to shut down the servers for The Crew, rendering the game unplayable. In December 2023, Ubisoft quietly delisted The Crew from digital storefronts and announced that the game’s servers would be deactivated on March 31, 2024. Although Ubisoft offered refunds to recent buyers, many players who purchased the game years ago were excluded.

As reported by Polygon, The lawsuit accuses Ubisoft of violating California consumer protection laws, claiming the publisher misled consumers by making them think they were purchasing a fully playable game, when in fact they were only licensing access to an online server. “Imagine you buy a pinball machine, and years later, you enter your den to go play it, only to discover that all the paddles are missing, the pinball and bumpers are gone, and the monitor that proudly displayed your unassailable high score is removed,” the plaintiffs’ lawyers wrote in the lawsuit.

Turns out the pinball manufacturer decided to come into your home, gut the insides of the pinball machine, and remove your ability to play the game that you bought and thought you owned. – The plaintiffs’ lawyers

The plaintiffs argue that Ubisoft’s servers acted as keys to The Crew, and the shutdown has left players unable to access what they had purchased. They are seeking class action certification and monetary relief for affected consumers.

In response to backlash, Ubisoft promised offline modes for The Crew 2 and The Crew Motorfest. However, critics argue that this does not resolve the issue with The Crew. Stéphane Beley, senior creative director of the franchise, acknowledged the concern and confirmed that offline modes are being explored for the newer titles, stating, “We are currently exploring different solutions, and can confirm an offline mode to ensure long-term access to both titles.”

This lawsuit also highlights the growing debate over game ownership vs. licensing, with California recently passing a law requiring companies to clarify whether customers are purchasing licenses or actual ownership of digital products.