Ubisoft, the major French game publisher, finds itself in the spotlight due to a recent legal challenge. Legal representatives for the company have asserted that purchasing a game doesn’t equate to owning it outright, a stance that emerged during a class action lawsuit filed by gamers in California.
This lawsuit stems from Ubisoft’s decision to discontinue The Crew—a game first released in 2014. As of 2024, the game has been taken offline. Since The Crew requires an internet connection to play, gamers are left unable to access it at all, prompting frustration among its player base.
In their motion to dismiss the lawsuit, Ubisoft’s attorneys highlighted that the consumers’ dissatisfaction is rooted in the company’s recent decision to retire the game, which was previously outlined on the product’s packaging. This class action accuses Ubisoft of violating several laws, including California’s False Advertising Law, Unfair Competition Law, and the Consumer Legal Remedies Act. Additionally, claims of common law fraud and breach of warranty have been raised. Polygon reported on this legal maneuvering in detail.
In response to Ubisoft’s defense, the plaintiffs amended their complaint. They now argue that Ubisoft may have violated state laws concerning gift cards, which mandate indefinite validity, because gamers had unused in-game currency when The Crew was shut down. The success of this argument will likely hinge on whether in-game currency is legally comparable to traditional gift cards.
