Ubisoft is facing a lawsuit from players of its racing game The Crew, who argue they were misled into believing they were purchasing full ownership rights rather than a limited license to access the game. After Ubisoft shut down the game's servers, leaving the game unplayable, the plaintiffs claim this violates California's laws on false advertising and consumer protection. Ubisoft contends that users were informed at purchase that they were only receiving access rights and not ownership.

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As a result of this lawsuit, Ubisoft seeks to dismiss the claims, emphasizing that packaging contained clear disclaimers about potential cancellations of online services. Players are now left questioning the nature of digital purchases and ownership rights, as even storefronts are adapting to warn consumers that they are buying licenses, not outright ownership.

nDo players really own the games they purchase?

No, players typically own a limited license to access the game content rather than full ownership rights, which allows companies to restrict access or shut down servers at any time.

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The Crew, released in 2014, is an open-world racing game developed by Ubisoft Reflections. It allowed players to explore a massive recreation of the United States while engaging in various racing challenges. As digital ownership becomes a critical topic in the gaming industry, this lawsuit highlights ongoing concerns about consumer rights in the digital market.