The racing game The Crew from Ubisoft is no longer playable as of April 1, 2024, as all online servers have been shut down. This highlights a problem and the fear of many players about not being able to play their online games anymore. A petition aims to bring this issue before the British Parliament.
On April 1 of this year, the online servers for The Crew were shut down. Because the game required players to be constantly online, it is no longer playable even with the disc. If you bought the game, you are out of luck. It seems the game has also been removed from your library.
However, players do not want to give up, as The Crew is not the only game facing such a fate. A current petition in the UK aims to bring this case before the British Parliament, and the first milestone of the petition will likely be reached.
Players want to take the case to the British Parliament
The petition by Lewis Evans is explicitly designed for the British Parliament. The petition addresses the question of whether publishers should keep games you have purchased in a playable state. There are two milestones to be reached for the petition. At 10,000 signatures, the UK government will comment on the issue. At 100,000 signatures, the issue will be discussed in Parliament.
Only British citizens can sign the petition. Currently, the petition has over 8,700 signatures, so it is likely that the first milestone will be reached easily. This petition is available until October 16, 2024. In the UK, the possibility of such a petition has been legally regulated since 1215, as openpetition.de explains.
This is not about the game receiving constant updates but rather about it remaining playable for buyers. 3DJuegos cites Knockout City as an example. The game was also taken offline but received an offline mode that allows players to play with friends. The online game was among several games taken offline in 2023 due to low player numbers.
What does this mean for us? For now, nothing. Even if there are debates and decisions in the UK, it is not currently relevant for us in Germany and the EU. After a debate in Parliament, a court would have to pass a law. However, a debate or even a law would set precedents for other institutions and countries.
The situation with The Crew is not new and will not be an isolated case. Due to the many service games, many games are at risk of facing such a fate, which is why a customer-friendly solution would be desirable.
What do you think about this issue? Let us know in the comments. Even big names and brands do not protect service games from flops: Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League disappoints the publisher: “Expectations not met”
