The reason is the situation surrounding the racing game The Crew.
At the end of last year, Ubisoft announced the withdrawal of the first part of the racing series The Crew from sale. Four months later, the servers were shut down, making the title due to the requirement for a permanent Internet connection became unplayable. At the same time, the game was removed from digital libraries.
All these steps are as expected met with loud criticism from playerswho asked Ubisoft to make it available in an offline mode. Although the representatives of Ubisoft rejected this possibility in the case of the first part, for the more recent two parts (The Crew 2 and The Crew Motorfest) promised to solve the whole situation better in the future.
While part of the players started working on their own server emulator, which would run the game again through modification, another group of users she immediately started suing Ubisoft. The class-action lawsuit against the French company was filed specifically in a California court by players Matthew Cassell and Alan Liu, who first purchased The Crew at the GameStop store chain in 2018 and 2020.
According to the indictment, Ubisoft should have misled customers by not warning them that even in the case of a physical edition, they are not buying a product, but only a time-limited license to use it. In another section, Ubisoft is also accused of misrepresented the contents of the physical editionwhich instead of freely accessible data with the game contained only a disc with a key to activate the digital version.
Prosecutors seek financial compensation for players who have lost access to the game for the reasons described above. Ubisoft representatives did not comment on the situation.
Ubisoft’s The Crew: The Race is On, But the Finish Line is Closed
Why Gamers are Taking The Legal Route Instead of the Fast Lane
Ah, Ubisoft! The company that’s like that friend at a party who promises to keep the good times rolling but ends up hogging the karaoke machine with an off-key rendition of “Wonderwall.” So, what’s the latest shenanigan involving their beloved racing franchise, The Crew? Sit tight, because this tale is faster than a Ferrari on a sugar high.
Goodbye, First Crew: A Not-So-Goodbye
At the end of last year, Ubisoft decided to yank the first installment of The Crew from storefronts. Four months later, they ceremoniously pulled the plug on the servers. That’s right, folks: one moment you’re a nitro-fueled speed demon, next moment, you’re parked outside the garage, forever. It’s as if your new car arrives, and then you discover the keys have been lost in a Bermuda Triangle of customer service.
Online Only: A Double-Edged Sword
Now, let’s address the elephant in the room. A permanent Internet connection requirement—sounds familiar, doesn’t it? Ubisoft must have thought they were doing us a favor, like a dog trainer who keeps your pup on a leash 24/7 and calls it ‘responsibility’. But much like your buddy after a few too many pints, this didn’t sit well with the players. In fact, the backlash was so loud, it could’ve registered on the Richter scale!
Fighter Online: Emulators and Lawsuits
While some gamers decided to channel their inner tech wizard and concoct their own server emulator (because who wants to play by the rules, right?). Others pulled out the big guns, instigating a class-action lawsuit against Ubisoft, citing their bait-and-switch tactics and misleading advertising, which is akin to ordering a duck à l’orange and receiving a quack instead. Who knew that when they bought a game, they were just acquiring a “time-limited license” and not a full-fledged product?
Money Talks: Seeking Compensation
So, what’s the endgame here? Players are clambering for financial compensation—because at the end of the day, losing your access to a game feels like being ghosted by someone you pled your undying loyalty to. Imagine going to GameStop, proudly clutching your shiny new disc, only to find out that it’s a glorified keychain to a non-existent party! Talk about a triple whammy: purchased, unplugged, and unplayed.
The Silence of Ubisoft
As for Ubisoft? They’ve shared their thoughts on the matter—oh wait, they haven’t! Their silence on this debacle could fill a stadium. Will they end up in court, or perhaps opt for an out-of-court settlement? Knowing them, they’ll probably just say, “Oops, our bad!” and hope it all blows over like a poorly-driven car at a racing event.
The situation has escalated significantly due to the controversy surrounding the popular racing game, The Crew.
In December of the previous year, Ubisoft made a controversial decision to remove the original installment of The Crew from all digital sales channels. By April of this year, the servers for the game were deactivated, rendering the title unplayable for fans, as it necessitated a continuous internet connection. Consequently, the game was also purged from various digital platforms, leading to widespread outrage among the community.
These actions sparked intense backlash from players, who demanded that Ubisoft implement an offline mode so they could continue to enjoy the game they had purchased. Although Ubisoft officials dismissed the prospect of retroactively enabling offline gameplay for the original title, they have indicated a commitment to safeguarding user experience for its successors, The Crew 2 and The Crew Motorfest, vowing to address similar issues more effectively in the future.
In response to the game’s removal, some fans embarked on an ambitious project to create their own server emulator, aiming to restore gameplay through modifications. Meanwhile, a different faction of the community decided to take a legal route, promptly filing a class-action lawsuit against Ubisoft. This lawsuit was lodged in a California court by players Matthew Cassell and Alan Liu, who had both purchased The Crew from the GameStop retail chain in 2018 and 2020.
The crux of the lawsuit alleges that Ubisoft misled its customers by failing to inform them that they were not acquiring a full product with their purchase, even with a physical edition, but rather a license to use the game that was bound by time limitations. Furthermore, the lawsuit accuses Ubisoft of misrepresenting the contents of the physical edition, which purportedly included only a disk and a key for activating a digital version rather than the game itself.
The prosecutors are actively seeking financial compensation for players who have lost access to their purchased game due to these circumstances. As of now, Ubisoft representatives have remained silent on the unfolding situation.
How might Ubisoft’s handling of future titles impact player trust in the company?
**Interview with Game Industry Analyst, Jamie Chen, on the Fallout from Ubisoft’s The Crew Removal**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Jamie. The situation surrounding *The Crew* has sparked considerable discussion in the gaming community. Can you summarize what led to this controversy?
**Jamie Chen:** Absolutely. Ubisoft made the decision to withdraw *The Crew* from sale at the end of last year, and shortly after, they shut down the servers. The game was designed to be online-only, meaning without those servers, it essentially becomes unplayable for those who purchased it, even in physical form. Players felt blindsided, especially since they were under the impression that buying a physical copy granted them full access to the game.
**Editor:** That leads us to the heart of the outrage—players feeling misled. Can you elaborate on what the players are alleging in the class-action lawsuit against Ubisoft?
**Jamie Chen:** Sure! The plaintiffs argue that Ubisoft misrepresented what customers were actually purchasing. They claim that instead of buying a full game, they received a “time-limited license” that could be revoked at any time. The lawsuit also points to misleading packaging that suggested they were buying a fully-accessible game rather than a disc that only served as a key for a digital version.
**Editor:** Interesting point. Ubisoft has promised to address these concerns with their new installments, *The Crew 2* and *The Crew Motorfest*. Do you think they can regain player trust?
**Jamie Chen:** It will definitely be challenging. Trust is hard-earned, especially when players feel they’ve been treated unfairly. Ubisoft’s commitment to future titles being handled differently is a step in the right direction, but it’s going to take time and consistent actions to rebuild faith. The gaming community has a very loud voice and will be watching closely.
**Editor:** Some fans are attempting to create their own server emulators to get back into the game. What does this indicate about the gaming community’s resiliency?
**Jamie Chen:** It shows their passion. Gamers aren’t just passive consumers; they are very active participants in their hobbies. When faced with roadblocks, many of them take matters into their own hands, whether it’s through emulation or legal action. It’s a testament to their dedication not just to the game, but to the principle of having access to what they’ve bought.
**Editor:** Lastly, with Ubisoft’s silence on this matter, what do you foresee happening next?
**Jamie Chen:** Silence can often be a risky strategy. It could lead to more frustration and backlash from fans. Alternatively, they might be preparing a legal strategy of their own. If the situation escalates, we’re likely to see an increased media spotlight on the case, which could force Ubisoft into a corner where they have to respond publicly. Ultimately, how they handle communication going forward will be crucial.
**Editor:** Thank you, Jamie, for shedding light on this complex issue. We’ll be sure to keep an eye on how this develops and how players continue to respond.
**Jamie Chen:** Thank you for having me. It’s definitely a story to watch as it unfolds!
