Ubisoft Legal Team Asserts Players Never Owned The Crew

Ubisoft, a leading French video game publisher, recently found itself in legal hot water regarding player ownership of purchased games. In a legal move to dismiss a class-action lawsuit brought by gamers in California, Ubisoft’s lawyers asserted that buying a game doesn’t necessarily mean players own it in a permanent sense.

This legal clash unfolded after Ubisoft decided to shut down “The Crew” in 2024, a decade after its debut. The title, reliant on an online connection, became unplayable once the company pulled the plug. The shutdown upset many users, sparking the lawsuit, which accused Ubisoft of false advertising, unfair competition, breach of warranty, common law fraud, and violating the Consumer Legal Remedies Act. In their defense, Ubisoft’s team described the lawsuit as a broad attempt to challenge the company’s actions.

In response, the plaintiffs have revised their complaint, now emphasizing that players were left with unused in-game currency when “The Crew” was retired. They argue Ubisoft might have violated state laws mandating that gift cards remain valid indefinitely, suggesting that this should extend to virtual currency as well. Whether this argument stands will likely spark lively legal debates moving forward.