Ubisoft maintains that purchasing a game grants players a limited license, not full ownership rights.

The company sought to dismiss a lawsuit filed by two dissatisfied The Crew players who challenged Ubisoft in court after the original racing game was shut down last year.

Released in 2014, The Crew is no longer accessible. Whether physical or digital, no version of the game can be purchased or played, as servers were fully deactivated by March 2024.

Ubisoft developed offline modes for The Crew 2 and The Crew: Motorfest to ensure continued playability, but no such solution was provided for the original game.

Late last year, two players sued Ubisoft, claiming they believed they were purchasing full ownership of The Crew, not a limited license to access it.

"Picture buying a pinball machine, only to find years later that the paddles, ball, and bumpers are gone, and the high-score display has been removed," the lawsuit stated.

As reported by Polygon, the plaintiffs accused Ubisoft of violating California’s False Advertising Law, Unfair Competition Law, Consumer Legal Remedies Act, and committing common law fraud and breach of warranty. They also argued that Ubisoft violated California’s gift card law, which prohibits expiration dates.

The players presented evidence showing the game’s activation code, valid until 2099, suggesting The Crew would remain playable for decades.

Ubisoft disputes these claims.

"The plaintiffs claim they bought physical copies of The Crew, expecting permanent access. They also object to Ubisoft’s failure to provide an offline, single-player mode, or 'patch,' when the game’s servers were shut down in March 2024," Ubisoft’s legal team stated.

"The core of the plaintiffs’ argument is that Ubisoft misled buyers into believing they were purchasing full ownership of The Crew, not a limited license. However, consumers received what they paid for and were clearly informed at purchase that they were acquiring a license," the statement continued.

Ubisoft’s response notes that Xbox and PlayStation packaging includes a clear, all-caps notice stating that Ubisoft may terminate access to online features with 30 days’ notice.

Ubisoft has moved to dismiss the lawsuit. If the motion fails, the plaintiffs have requested a jury trial.

Digital platforms like Steam now warn customers upfront that they are purchasing a license, not the game itself. This follows a new California law, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, requiring digital marketplaces to clarify that purchases grant a license, not ownership.

While the law doesn’t prevent companies from revoking access to content, it ensures consumers are informed about the nature of their purchase before completing the transaction.