Ubisoft Removes The Crew from Owners’ Libraries

After closing down The Crew’s servers at the end of March, Ubisoft has now taken the next step by removing the open-world racer from owners’ libraries and revoking their user license. This move comes after the publisher had previously delisted The Crew from digital storefronts last December, announcing the permanent shutdown of the game’s servers on March 31, 2024. This decision not only affected the multiplayer aspects of the game but also made all single-player content inaccessible due to its always-online nature.

For dedicated fans of The Crew who had held out hope for the game’s continuation through private servers, the recent news of Ubisoft revoking owners’ licenses came as a shock. This action has made it impossible for players to download or install the game, further solidifying the end of its availability.

Reports from players indicated that The Crew had been removed from their Ubisoft Connect libraries and placed in a new “inactive games” section, accompanied by a message stating, “You no longer have access to this game. Why not check the Store to pursue your adventures?” Attempting to launch the game directly from an existing install directory only resulted in demo mode, while Steam installations prompted users to input a game key.

Unsurprisingly, the response from the community has been overwhelmingly negative. Comments on various platforms have criticized Ubisoft’s actions, with some calling it “abhorrent behavior” and “the saddest and most ruthless decision in gaming history.” Many have pointed players towards the Stop Killing Games initiative, which was launched in response to situations like this one.

Stop Killing Games, created by YouTuber Ross Scott following Ubisoft’s initial announcement about The Crew shutdown, aims to address the issue of purchased games becoming unplayable through political and legal means.

When questioned about the decision to revoke The Crew licenses, Ubisoft simply referred back to its original announcement, stating that the shutdown was necessary due to server infrastructure and licensing constraints. Despite the disappointment it may cause players, the publisher stands by its choice to decommission the game after nearly a decade of support.