Ubisoft Removes The Crew Purchases From Digital Libraries

Expert Verified By

Grim Reminder That We Don't Own Digital Games!

Story Highlight
  • Ubisoft has completely revoked access to The Crew for digital owners.
  • People have lost their decade-long purchases, highlighting the drawbacks of digital media.
  • The publisher is also ignoring requests submitted to customer support on the matter.

Despite the declining popularity of physical media, physical games enthusiasts argue that digital titles are never truly yours to own.

While most people simply don’t care about the long-term implications of digital libraries, a recent Ubisoft incident highlights the drawbacks of digital gaming. The publisher has begun to revoke The Crew purchases from Ubisoft Connect.

Why it matters: Publishers typically respect digital ownership when games are delisted or shut down. However, this is a unique instance where licenses are being removed from existing libraries.

It is important to note that The Crew was recently delisted from online storefronts. However, as mentioned earlier, delisted games typically stay within existing libraries.

This example highlights that publishers and developers can disable digital purchases on a whim. Recently, the Stellar Blade demo was leaked ahead of schedule, and PlayStation eventually disabled it for all users in a similar turn of events.

Adding further confusion to the situation is the fact that The Crew is no longer playable. As of 1st April, the game’s online serves have been shut down, rendering this online-only title unplayable.

Still, Ubisoft’s licensing changes mean that players are unable to even launch the game. Meanwhile, physical owners of The Crew can still launch the game, albeit without the ability to play it.

One major problem with Ubisoft’s approach is the fact that it limits the chances of a future comeback. Various shutdown games have come back later in the form of private fan-made servers.

The Crew
Ubisoft Wants You To Play The New Crew Entries

Since The Crew is not playable on PC anymore, this is unlikely to happen. According to various reports, customer support has simply chosen to ignore the problem despite the many submissions.

People like the GameStop CEO advocate for the continued use of physical discs as a potential solution. Xbox also believes in supporting physical media, but the industry is gradually headed toward an all-digital future.

Was our article helpful? 👨‍💻

Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔

Gear Up For Latest News

Get exclusive gaming & tech news before it drops. Sign up today!

Join Our Community

Still having issues? Join the Tech4Gamers Forum for expert help and community support!

Latest News

Join Our Community

104,000FansLike
32,122FollowersFollow

Trending

Ubisoft Cancelled Post–Civil War Assassin’s Creed Title Last Year for Being ‘Too Controversial’

Ubisoft reportedly canceled an Assassin's Creed game last year set after the Civil War era, featuring a protagonist who was a former slave.

Nintendo Switch 2 Outpaces Original Switch by 77%, Selling 2.4 Million Units in US in 3 Months

The Nintendo Switch 2 has now surpassed 2.4 million unit sales in the US, which is 77% faster than its predecessor.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Set To Receive New Content As Game Hits 5 Million Units Sold

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has now sold a whopping 5 million units, and new content for the RPG is also on the way.

New Silent Hill f Xbox Ad Reminds Players: You’re Buying A License, Not The Game

Xbox is marketing Silent Hill f with a tag underneath stating that you will only purchase the license to play the horror title.

Over 60% US Gamers Buy Two or Fewer Games Per Year

Only 14% of games in the US buy new games regularly, and they are the main drivers of the paid game market.