Ubisoft is now facing a class action lawsuit from two California-based consumers after it shut down The Crew, an online-only racing game released in 2014. The game was delisted in December 2023 and became unplayable after Ubisoft shut down its servers on March 31, 2024. The plaintiffs argue that the shutdown violates California consumer protection laws, and they are seeking monetary relief and damages for players affected by the game’s closure.

The core of the lawsuit centers on the nature of game ownership. The plaintiffs claim Ubisoft misled customers by implying they were purchasing the game when in reality they were only receiving a limited license to access a title that depended entirely on Ubisoft’s server support. According to the complaint, physical discs and digital downloads functioned more like access keys to a remote server that Ubisoft could choose to stop maintaining at any time.

Ubisoft has responded by filing a motion to dismiss the case. The company argues that The Crew was always marketed as an online-only title and that players were granted a revocable, time-limited license. Ubisoft’s legal team maintains this was clearly stated on product packaging and in the company’s Terms of Use. They further claim that there was no violation of consumer rights and that the plaintiffs suffered no measurable harm.

An attorney representing Ubisoft said that consumers should not have expected lifetime ownership of a product that relies on online infrastructure. According to the company’s legal team, the game was sold as a service tied to server availability, not as a perpetual product. The lawyer emphasized that online games are inherently temporary and subject to shutdown when maintaining the servers is no longer viable. They argue that Ubisoft was transparent about the game’s nature and that the plaintiffs’ expectations were unrealistic. In their view, no industry standard promises indefinite access to online-only games, and players accept that risk when purchasing such titles.

In March 2025, the plaintiffs filed an amended complaint to address Ubisoft’s arguments. They pointed to packaging that listed activation codes with expiration dates as late as 2099, which they say implied the game would be available for decades. They also allege that Ubisoft violated California law by allowing in-game currency, which they claim is comparable to a gift card, to expire after the shutdown. Under California law, gift cards cannot legally expire.

This legal dispute adds to ongoing concerns about digital media ownership. As more games rely on online servers and digital distribution, questions remain about what consumers are truly buying. The outcome of this case could affect how companies present ownership and access rights in the future.

Ubisoft has until April 29 to respond to the amended complaint. In the meantime, the publisher has announced plans to introduce offline modes for The Crew 2 and The Crew: Motorfest to preserve access for those titles. Whether this move will satisfy players who lost access to The Crew remains uncertain. With legal questions about digital ownership and licensing gaining more attention, this case could have broader implications for how publishers handle always-online games and how transparent they must be with players going forward.