A French Lawsuit Might Have Deep Ramifications for Gaming’s Future

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These days, games like Fortnite that require a constant internet connection are very popular. If these online-only games appeal to players, they can be successful. However, when the servers for a game are shut down – as recently happened with Highguard – players lose access to the game forever.

It’s understandable that game companies don’t keep supporting games nobody plays. However, removing content from players who did purchase the game is really upsetting. This issue is now being fought in French courts, with a lawsuit against Ubisoft potentially forcing them—and other developers—to rethink how they handle games that require a constant internet connection. If the lawsuit succeeds, it could significantly change the way all game developers design these types of games.

Why A Consumer’s Rights Group In France Is Suing Ubisoft

A recent lawsuit against Ubisoft could significantly impact the future of online games. While games that require a constant internet connection can seem appealing, offering endless multiplayer experiences, they also have downsides. A major issue is that developers can shut down the game’s servers, making the game unplayable. This happened with Ubisoft’s racing game, The Crew.

Ubisoft released The Crew in 2014 but shut down its servers ten years later. They also removed access for players who owned the game through Ubisoft Connect, causing significant frustration. This has resulted in a class-action lawsuit in France, where Ubisoft is based. The lawsuit, spearheaded by the consumer group UFC-Que Choisir and supported by the Stop Killing Games movement, claims Ubisoft violated consumer rights by taking away a game players had already purchased.

This case raises important questions about how game publishers operate. It challenges their right to simply license access to games, rather than selling the games themselves outright. The argument suggests that Ubisoft should have been more upfront about the possibility of games becoming unavailable, or offered refunds to players who lost access. While the legal outcome is still uncertain, a ruling against Ubisoft could set a precedent, potentially preventing publishers from shutting down games in the future.

Online Gaming Might Look Very Different If Ubisoft Loses This Lawsuit

There’s growing discussion about whether players should truly own the online games they buy, particularly with the increasing popularity of the “Stop Killing Games” movement. This movement argues that game companies shouldn’t be able to shut down game servers and wipe away players’ progress, especially when players have spent money on the game. Ubisoft has faced lawsuits over this before, but a new legal challenge backed by the consumer group UFC-Que Choisir is gaining more attention. This time, the case has stronger support from industry figures and European Union members, making it a potentially bigger deal.

Ubisoft’s situation is important because if they’re found responsible in this case, other major game companies could face similar legal challenges. Game companies argue that keeping games running forever is too expensive, but some believe they should either offer offline modes or clearly warn players about the possibility of games being shut down, so consumers can make informed choices before buying.

This change could significantly affect online games, forcing developers to include single-player options or limited server functionality, or to be upfront with players about a game’s potential lifespan. It also raises questions about how this applies to free-to-play games like Fortnite, where players can purchase in-game items. Given that many modern games are built around online multiplayer, this could have widespread consequences for game development. This situation could also gain traction from the “Stop Killing Games” petition, bringing more attention to game preservation and potentially saving numerous titles from being lost forever.

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2026-04-01 22:40