California Residents Sue Ubisoft Over “The Crew” Shutdown, Claim Fraud and Misrepresentation.
Two residents of California have filed a legal complaint against Ubisoft, alleging fraud and unfair business practices after the company shut down the servers for The Crew, a popular online-exclusive racing game.
The lawsuit, filed in a California court, claims that Ubisoft misled consumers into believing they had purchased a full, functional copy of the game that would remain playable in offline mode—even after the servers were shut down.
The plaintiffs, who purchased The Crew in 2018 and 2020, argue that Ubisoft’s packaging and advertising falsely represented that the game was entirely encoded onto physical discs and that an offline version would always be accessible. According to the lawsuit, Ubisoft’s failure to clearly disclose that The Crew was primarily an online-only game violated California’s Unfair Competition Law and resulted in fraud and misrepresentation.
The suit, which aims to become a class action, highlights several legal grievances, including:
- Violation of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act
- Violation of California’s Unfair Competition Law
- Violation of California’s False Advertising Law
- Fraud
- Fraudulent Inducement and Misrepresentation
- Breach of Express and Implied Warranty
Ubisoft’s Shutdown of The Crew: A Breach of Consumer Trust?
The plaintiffs contend that Ubisoft’s decision to shut down the servers for The Crew without providing an offline version, unlike some of the company’s other games such as Assassin’s Creed 2 and 3, was both deceptive and unfair. Ubisoft had previously promised offline versions for The Crew 2 and The Crew Motorfest but did not extend this to the original The Crew. This has left players unable to access even the single-player portion of the game they had purchased.
The lawsuit also includes an analogy comparing Ubisoft’s actions to a pinball machine manufacturer entering someone’s home and removing key parts of the machine, rendering it unplayable. While the analogy may seem exaggerated, it underscores the plaintiffs’ argument that they were misled into thinking they were buying a complete product—one that could be played at any time—only to find it essentially rendered useless after the servers were shut down.
The Legal Battle Could Have Major Consequences for Ubisoft
While the lawsuit currently involves just two plaintiffs, their legal team is seeking class action status, which would allow other affected players to join the case. If successful, the class action could result in significant financial consequences for Ubisoft, including the potential for refunds and damages. The plaintiffs are demanding that Ubisoft return the full premium price paid for the game and cover legal expenses. Furthermore, they are asking the court to force Ubisoft to “disgorge all revenues obtained” from their alleged violations of California law.
The lawsuit has already garnered attention within the gaming community, as The Crew was a beloved title for many players. The plaintiffs also note the dissatisfaction voiced by other fans of the game on social media, with some users questioning why Ubisoft did not provide a proper offline mode for the original title.
Ubisoft’s Response and Legal Challenges
As of now, Ubisoft has yet to respond to the lawsuit in detail, but the case presents a major challenge for the publisher. The suit claims that Ubisoft failed to live up to industry standards when it came to communicating the nature of the game, potentially opening the door for a more significant legal battle.
In summary, the lawsuit against Ubisoft seeks not only a refund for the plaintiffs but also aims to hold the company accountable for misleading customers and failing to deliver a product that could be used as promised. If the case becomes a class action, it could have far-reaching implications for the gaming industry and the way online-exclusive games are marketed and sold.
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