Ubisoft has addressed the lawsuit concerning The Crew, rejecting claims that players had "unfettered ownership" of the game

Ubisoft has taken steps to counter a California class action lawsuit concerning the termination of the 2014 racing game, The Crew. The company has submitted a request for the case's dismissal.

Represented by Paul Hastings LLP, Ubisoft filed their dismissal request in February, as reported by Polygon. The case claims players believed they were receiving full ownership rights when buying the game, whereas they were actually acquiring a license.

The lawsuit, representing a potential nationwide class, presents multiple allegations, including breaches of California’s consumer protection laws and common law fraud. Ubisoft argues the claims are outdated and fall outside the permissible time frame since purchasing the game.

Plaintiffs Alan Liu and Matthew Cassell purchased the game in physical formats in late 2018 and early 2020. The case, filed in November 2024, follows Ubisoft's announcement in December 2023 to phase out the game, which went offline by March 2024.

Ubisoft maintains that The Crew's packaging clarified its license terms and states that the plaintiffs did not suffer recognizable harm.

Furthermore, the company points to physical packaging warnings about a 30-day notice before shutdown and requirements for online access.

In response to complaints about not providing an offline version, Ubisoft argues the plaintiffs had extensive access to the game prior to its server shutdown, which took place nearly a decade after the game's release.

Though Ubisoft later introduced offline modes for The Crew 2 and The Crew Motorfest, the original 2014 game was excluded from this update, as noted in a September 2024 announcement.

According to Polygon, the plaintiffs submitted a revised complaint on March 18, countering Ubisoft's argument regarding the timing of the game's server shutdown announcement.

The complaint also suggests a connection to California's laws on gift card expiration, referencing The Crew's digital currency. They present product packaging claiming a download code would expire in 2099, implying extended playability.

The subsequent complaint includes nine counts of wrongdoing, requiring Ubisoft's response by the end of April 2025.

This case reflects broader debates around digital game ownership, especially following California legislation that, as of September 2024, mandates digital storefronts to clarify when consumers are buying licenses rather than full ownership of digital content.