The Crew
News, coverage and analysis tracking The Crew across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Stop Killing Games-backed bill that'd bar publishers from switching off game servers without thinking of players passes California State Assembly vote
A bill in California, backed by the Stop Killing Games campaign, has passed the State Assembly and is moving to the State Senate. The legislation would require publishers to offer refunds or playable offline versions of games when shutting down online servers. The Entertainment Software Association opposes the bill, while a similar EU petition is awaiting a response.
EU Politician Muddies Waters On “Stop Killing Games” With Rant On Wokeness
A European Union parliamentary debate on the "Stop Killing Games" movement, which advocates for publishers to keep games online after purchase, was sidetracked by Slovakian politician Milan Uhrik. Uhrik focused on "wokeness" and "aggressive monetization," citing Assassin's Creed Shadows as an example of forced political correctness. The discussion also touched upon Ubisoft's decision to shut down The Crew and the industry's perspective on games as a service.
Stop Killing Games Movement Hits European Parliament – And This Time, It’s Serious | Invision Game Community
The Stop Killing Games movement has brought the issue of digital ownership and game preservation to the European Parliament. The movement, led by Ross Scott, argues that when publishers shut down servers for games that require them to function, players effectively lose access to products they have purchased. A key example cited is Ubisoft's decision to make The Crew unplayable after server shutdown, highlighting a lack of clear regulation and a potential legal grey area that benefits publishers.
Stop Killing Games delivers 'absolutely incredible' hearing in European Parliament: 'There was no [parliament member] that wasn't responding positively'
Stop Killing Games founder Ross Scott and organizer Moritz Katzner presented their case for game preservation to the European Parliament, receiving positive responses from various political groups. The initiative aims to establish requirements to prevent server-dependent games from being shut down when they are no longer profitable, with the organization also launching NGOs in the EU and US for long-term counter-lobbying.
'A real concern for millions and probably hundreds of millions of European citizens' - Stop Killing Games has its day in European Parliament and it seems to go very well
The initiative Stop Killing Games presented its case for regulation in the European Parliament to address the issue of video games becoming unplayable after sale due to discontinued services. The hearing, which garnered over 1 million European citizen signatures, highlighted concerns about consumer rights and the permanent disabling of sold games, with officials pledging to investigate copyright regulations and potential solutions. Founder Ross Scott emphasized that this practice, exemplified by games like The Crew, results in consumers losing access to products they have paid for without adequate recourse.
MMO Week in Review: Queen Devona
This week's MMO news roundup covers updates for Guild Wars Reforged, layoffs at MechWarrior studio Piranha Games, and a potential acquisition of Epic Games by Disney. The article also touches on political discussions surrounding game shutdowns in Europe and new early access dates for Heroes of Might and Magic Olden Era.
Stop Killing Games praises French lawsuit against Ubisoft, preps to speak at EU parliament April 16
Consumer advocacy group Stop Killing Games, led by Ross Scott, is praising a lawsuit filed in France against Ubisoft over the sunsetting of The Crew. Scott is scheduled to speak at the EU parliament on April 16th regarding a citizens' initiative petition related to game preservation. The lawsuit's success in France could set a precedent for other European countries.
French consumer advocacy group sues Ubisoft for taking The Crew offline, almost two years since Stop Killing Games first protested it
French consumer advocacy group UFC-Que Choisir has filed a lawsuit against Ubisoft over the removal of The Crew, arguing that players were deprived of access to a purchased game. The lawsuit challenges Ubisoft's EULA clauses that limit player rights and seeks to establish property rights over game copies and prevent publishers from revoking access. This action is supported by the Stop Killing Games initiative, which protests the practice of shutting down online-only games.
French consumer group sues Ubisoft due to The Crew shutdown
The French consumer group UFC-Que Choisir has filed a lawsuit against Ubisoft regarding the shutdown of the game The Crew. The group alleges that Ubisoft misled consumers about the permanence of their purchase and that its terms of service clauses are abusive. This action is supported by Stop Killing Games and aims to stop the practice of delisting games and to ensure players have ownership rights.
Major French consumer group sue Ubisoft over always-online game shutdowns
French consumer group UFC-Que Choisir is suing Ubisoft over the publisher's decision to shut down online servers for The Crew. This action will render the game unplayable for users who purchased it, raising concerns about game preservation and consumer rights.
French consumer group sues Ubisoft over shutdown of The Crew
French consumer association UFC-Que Choisir has filed a lawsuit against Ubisoft over the shutdown of the online racing game The Crew. The association alleges that Ubisoft misled consumers about the permanence of their purchase and imposed abusive clauses, leading to player backlash and the formation of the 'Stop Killing Games' movement.
MMO Business Roundup: Nintendo’s US patent, The Crew lawsuit, Epic helps a terminally ill former dev
This MMO business roundup covers several key industry events. Nintendo's attempt to patent a monster-summoning mechanic was rejected by the U.S. Patent Office, while Ubisoft faces a lawsuit in France over the shutdown of The Crew. Epic Games has committed to covering insurance costs for a terminally ill former employee laid off during recent company-wide reductions.
France's leading consumer association has filed a lawsuit against Ubisoft over The Crew's online shutdown
France's leading consumer association, UFC-Que Choisir, has filed a lawsuit against Ubisoft concerning the shutdown of the online racing game The Crew. The lawsuit alleges that Ubisoft misled consumers about the permanence of their purchase and imposed abusive contractual clauses. This legal action could have significant implications for game preservation and consumer rights in the industry.
The Crew – Ubisoft Hit by a New Lawsuit in France Supported by Stop Killing Games
Ubisoft is facing a new lawsuit in France from consumer association UFC-Que Choisir, supported by Stop Killing Games, over its decision to revoke licenses for The Crew. The lawsuit alleges deceptive business practices and abusive terms regarding the game's revocable license. CEO Yves Guillemot defended the company's actions, stating that game support cannot last forever and that this is an industry-wide issue.
France's 'leading consumer association,' backed by Stop Killing Games, sues Ubisoft over The Crew…
French consumer group UFC-Que Choisir, supported by Stop Killing Games, has filed a lawsuit against Ubisoft over the shutdown of the racing game The Crew. The lawsuit alleges that Ubisoft violated consumer rights by closing the game and revoking licenses without adequate prior notification. The Crew, launched in 2014, became unplayable in April 2024 after its servers were shut down.
Ubisoft sued again over The Crew shutdown, this time by French consumer group backed by Stop Killing Games alleging…
Ubisoft is facing a new lawsuit from French consumer group UFC-Que Choisir over the shutdown of its 2014 racing game, The Crew. The group alleges deceptive business practices and abusive contract clauses for making the game unplayable. This follows a previous class-action lawsuit and the formation of the Stop Killing Games initiative.
French consumer group UFC-Que Choisir sues Ubisoft over The Crew shutdown
French consumer group UFC-Que Choisir is suing Ubisoft over the shutdown of its game, The Crew. Launched in 2014, the game was delisted in December 2023, and its servers were shut down in March 2024, rendering it unplayable. The lawsuit questions publishers' ability to revoke licenses for purchased games, impacting digital ownership and game preservation.
Morning Legal Briefs
A French consumer group, J'Accuse!, has filed a lawsuit against Ubisoft over the company's decision to shut down the online servers for the game 'The Crew'. The lawsuit raises questions about consumer rights and game preservation when online services are discontinued.
Major French consumer group sue Ubisoft over always-online game shutdowns with the backing of Stop Killing Games
A major French consumer group, UFC-Que Choisir, backed by the Stop Killing Games movement, is suing Ubisoft over the shutdown of The Crew's servers. The lawsuit argues that Ubisoft infringed consumer rights by making the game unplayable and questions the practice of selling licenses for games that can later be revoked. This action aims to set a precedent for publishers discontinuing online support for games.
Screamer Review - Pedal to the Metal | TNS
The review for Screamer suggests the arcade racer lacks innovation, focusing on flash over substance with a weak story mode. While some players enjoy arcade racers, the article notes that the genre has declined, with many titles failing to capture lasting appeal or becoming niche.
