“At some point I owned it”: Ubisoft has closed 'The Crew' and some users who paid for the game are not happy

'The Crew' has stopped working and there is nothing we can do. It doesn't matter that we have paid several euros for this game. Ubisoft has decided to say goodbye. This is just an example of what could happen with other of our favorite titles in times where digital purchases can fade over the years.

The French publisher began removing 'The Crew' from all online stores on December 14, 2024. This was the first step in the dismantling of the title that had just turned 10 years old. Along with this media, its complementary editions and virtual currency packages also disappeared.

The end of 'The Crew'

As previously announcedlast March 31 Ubisoft closed the game's servers. In this way, given that it was an online title, it was no longer possible to access it from PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Amazon Luna and Ubisoft+. The game had completed its cycle and the company had to focus on other projects.

In the editor's own words, the closure was the result of “server and license infrastructure limitations.” In this scenario, those users who had recently purchased the game could use the Ubisoft refund policy so as not to suffer an economic loss. In any case, not everyone received this news well.

When trying to play from any of the supported platforms, the game greeted users with the following message: “You no longer have access to this game. Why don't you visit the Store to continue your adventures?” A clear invitation to try the most recent proposals of the franchise, 'The Crew 2' and 'The Crew Motorfest'that are still active.

“At one point I owned the game and had access,” said one of the users who wishes he could continue playing. “He was marked as 'inactive' on my account, which put him in the same category as a limited-time 'Heroes VII' beta, which he participated in at some point,” said another of the players on the social network.

'The Crew', as a fully online game, doesn't make much sense without the servers that enable its functionality. Beyond the fact that the closure is contemplated in the terms and Conditions that we accept when we decide to buy it, there is an uncomfortable underlying issue: unlike other types of works such as music, preserving video games is complex.

The dynamics of this industry are killing true masterpieces and unforgettable classics. And of course, some people are making their own efforts to save their favorite games, like a YouTuber who spent more than 20,000 euros buying and saving everything he could from the 3DS and Wii U stores before they closed.

Images | Ubisoft | Screenshot

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