Ubisoft’s Legal Team Asserts Players Never Owned The Crew

Ubisoft’s legal team recently made headlines by asserting that purchasing a game doesn’t equate to owning it outright. This bold statement came in response to a class action lawsuit filed in California by passionate gamers. Their frustration stemmed from Ubisoft’s decision to shut down The Crew’s online services in 2024, a decade after its debut, leaving the game unplayable due to its reliance on an internet connection.

In their motion to dismiss the lawsuit, Ubisoft’s attorneys argued that players were displeased with the game’s retirement. The legal document noted that, “Annoyed by Ubisoft’s recent choice to discontinue the game—despite the notice given on the product’s packaging—plaintiffs are throwing a legal kitchen sink at us.” The lawsuit accuses Ubisoft of breaching various laws including California’s False Advertising Law, the Unfair Competition Law, the Consumer Legal Remedies Act, and also alleges common law fraud along with breach of warranty, as detailed by Polygon.

The plot thickened when the plaintiffs updated their complaint, highlighting an intriguing angle. They argued that Ubisoft’s action left many with unused in-game currency from The Crew, potentially violating state laws requiring gift cards to remain valid indefinitely. This hinges on whether in-game currency can be legally considered equivalent to a gift card, a point likely to spark further debate.