Have you ever thought about what happens to the games you've purchased when companies decide they're no longer worth supporting? A recent controversy involving Ubisoft has brought this question to the forefront of gaming discussions, and it's something that should concern all of us who invest time and money into our digital libraries.
What's Going On With Ubisoft?
Some weeks ago I came across a troubling development in the gaming world. Ubisoft, the company behind popular franchises like Assassin's Creed (one of my favourite) and Far Cry, is currently involved in a lawsuit regarding their racing game The Crew, which was permanently shut down in March 2024. After ten years of service, the game was completely removed from digital storefronts and made unplayable - even for those who had purchased physical or digital copies.
What's most concerning is Ubisoft's legal response to players who sued over this decision. The company has explicitly stated that gamers don't have "unfettered ownership rights" to the games they purchase - only a "limited license to access the game". They've essentially doubled down on the position that you don't actually own the games you buy, regardless of whether you have a physical disc or a digital download.
I personally experienced this firsthand when I wanted to trade-in Ghost Recon: Breakpoint but the shop refused to trade in as it turns out, the game servers were shutdown in April 2022. This stance flies in the face of traditional consumer expectations. When you purchase a product, especially a physical one, there's a reasonable expectation that you'll be able to use it indefinitely.
Why Game Ownership Matters
This isn't just about one racing game becoming unplayable. It's about the future of gaming as a medium and our ability to preserve it. Consider how we can still play games from decades ago on original hardware - classics like Chrono Trigger, Grand Theft Auto 3, or Metal Gear Solid 2. These experiences have been preserved because they exist on physical media that doesn't require ongoing server support.
But what happens when games are designed to be always online, even when they don't fundamentally need to be? They become vulnerable to corporate decisions that prioritize profit over preservation. The Crew is a prime example - while it had multiplayer components, much of the content could be played solo with AI opponents. There was no technical reason an offline patch couldn't have been released.
The Stop Killing Games Initiative
In response to this troubling trend, Ross Scott from Accursed Farms has launched the "Stop Killing Games" initiative. This campaign aims to petition regulators worldwide to examine and ultimately end the practice of companies rendering purchased games unplayable. With over 350,000 signatures so far, the movement is gaining momentum, especially in the EU where it seeks to gather 1 million signatures to bring the issue directly to the European Commission.
The initiative isn't asking for anything unreasonable - just that games should remain playable for those who purchased them, even after official support ends. This could mean creating offline patches, releasing server code, or finding other solutions that respect consumer rights.
Why Should We Care?
As gamers and tech enthusiasts, this issue strikes at the heart of our hobby. The games we play aren't just products - they're experiences, art, and sometimes important parts of our personal history. Imagine if your favorite childhood game simply disappeared because a company decided maintaining it wasn't profitable enough.
The precedent being set is dangerous. If Ubisoft succeeds in establishing that games are merely temporary licenses rather than products we own, other publishers will follow suit. We're already seeing this trend with more games requiring constant internet connections, even for primarily single-player experiences.
This isn't just about being able to play old games - it's about consumer rights in the digital age. When we purchase a game for A$100+, there should be protections ensuring we can continue to access that content.
What Can We Do?
If this concerns you (and it should!), there are ways to take action:
- Support the Stop Killing Games initiative by signing their petitions and spreading awareness
- Be more selective about which games you purchase, avoiding those with unnecessary always-online requirements
- Support companies and developers who respect consumer ownership and preservation
- Speak up when companies make anti-consumer decisions regarding game ownership
Final Thoughts
The gaming industry is at a crossroads. As technology advances, we need to ensure that consumer rights aren't left behind. Physical media might seem outdated to some, but it provides a level of ownership and preservation that digital licenses simply don't guarantee.
Ubisoft's stance that we should "get used to not owning games" isn't just disappointing - it's a threat to the entire medium of video games as an art form and an entertainment medium. Years from now, will future generations be able to experience the games that defined our era, or will they be lost to time because of short-sighted business decisions?
If we care about gaming as more than just a fleeting entertainment, we need to fight for our right to own the games we purchase. Whether through legal challenges, consumer advocacy, or simply voting with our wallets, this is a battle worth fighting.