UFC-Que Choisir sues Ubisoft as The Crew shutdown sparks EU-level consumer rights battle
Summary
French consumer group UFC-Que Choisir has filed a lawsuit against Ubisoft over the 2024 shutdown of The Crew
The case challenges the industry-wide practice of revoking game licenses without refunds after server shutdowns
The Stop Killing Games movement, backed by 1.3M+ EU citizen signatures, is amplifying the legal pressure
A formal EU Parliament hearing was scheduled for April 16, with the European Commission review expected by end of July
"In order to encourage the industry to engage with us on a constructive solution"
01
The lawsuit - what UFC-Que Choisir is alleging against Ubisoft
UFC-Que Choisir accuses Ubisoft of misleading consumers about the permanence of their purchase
The group alleges Ubisoft imposed abusive contractual clauses stripping players of ownership rights
Ubisoft's position was that customers only purchased limited access to the game, not full ownership
In April 2024, players received notices that their game licenses were being revoked with no refunds issued
02
Timeline of events - from delisting to permanent shutdown
December 2023: Ubisoft delisted The Crew from all digital marketplaces
March 2024: Ubisoft shut down servers, making the game permanently unplayable
April 2024: License revocation notices sent to players, triggering widespread backlash
Early 2025: UFC-Que Choisir formally files lawsuit, backed by Stop Killing Games
03
Stop Killing Games - citizen movement reaches EU threshold
The Stop Killing Games initiative collected over 1.3 million EU citizen signatures
The signature count surpassed the threshold requiring a mandatory review by the European Commission
The EU Parliament was scheduled to hold a formal hearing on the matter on April 16
Moritz Katzner stated the group aims to demonstrate broad parliamentary support for a constructive industry dialogue
04
Industry-wide context - server shutdowns are accelerating
The case arrives as game shutdowns are becoming more frequent across the industry
PUBG Blindspot terminated its service after only two months in early access
Rec Room and The Elder Scrolls: Blades both announced shutdowns scheduled for June 2025
The outcome of this case could set a legal precedent affecting how publishers handle online game lifecycles globally
05
What's next - regulatory and industry implications to watch
The European Commission is expected to publish its findings on the Stop Killing Games initiative by end of July
A ruling against Ubisoft could force the industry to rethink license terms, refund policies, and end-of-life practices
Publishers with large live service portfolios face growing regulatory and reputational exposure in the EU market
The case may accelerate demands for standardized consumer protections around digital game ownership across Europe
Events
Companies
Games
Locations
Europe
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