Ubisoft is facing a class-action lawsuit after shutting down servers for its 2014 online racing game, The Crew, making the game completely unplayable—even for those who purchased it. The lawsuit, filed in the Eastern District of California by plaintiffs Matthew Cassell and Alan Liu, argues that Ubisoft misled customers into thinking they were buying a permanent copy of the game, when in reality, they were only licensing access to it.
The plaintiffs claim this shutdown violates California’s consumer protection laws, including the False Advertising Law and the Consumer Legal Remedies Act. They argue Ubisoft gave buyers the impression of full ownership, especially when some digital activation codes appeared to expire in 2099. The suit also alleges fraud and breach of warranty.
Ubisoft counters that users agreed to a license, not ownership, and the terms clearly allowed Ubisoft to disable online services with prior notice. Still, the case raises critical questions about consumer rights in the age of digital media—particularly whether companies can revoke access to products after purchase.
The outcome could shape future policies around digital ownership, transparency in user agreements, and how online-dependent games are sold. As the industry shifts further into digital distribution, this lawsuit could set a major precedent.
Source: IGN
