Over the weekend, fans of Ubisoft games underwent a minor panic as a rumor spread that Ubisoft might be spontaneously deleting inactive Ubisoft accounts, permanently destroying digital game libraries if users didn't log on often enough. However, Ubisoft has now clarified that users' digital game libraries are safe.
Oh I’m sure in the ToS it mentions that we don’t own anything and they have the right to cut access whenever they want for any reason and that you can’t sue them for it
I’m not a lawyer, but I vaguely remember hearing that Terms of Service can’t protect a company from everything. I seriously doubt a company could get away with that when it was brought to court.
Of course, but OP brought up that they couldn’t be sued. I was just pointing out that if someone was willing to test it, I bet they could come out on top.
If it wasn’t in the terms and they deleted your account, what would you do? And would that action be different than if account deletion was outlined in a terms agreement?
Ubisoft reserves the right to terminate Ubisoft+ or any of the Ubisoft+ Services, at any time and for any reason, with at least thirty (30) day notice to you.
And yep:
you waive any right to a trial (by judge or jury), you waive any right to participate as a member of a class in a class action or similar proceeding
Pretty sure you don’t own ANY games anymore, unless you fully pirate them. The physical discs aren’t big enough to have the full game and really contain the license to play, which is why downloads and updates are prevalent before you get to play on most systems.
Is this correct or have I read incorrectly online?
If I’m correct, then my point is really that if players let this stand then a company can do anything to any game you’ve “bought”.
Depends. Some console games contain the entirety of the game. However oftentimes they still might require a system update to play, which won’t be available forever.
In 2021, I got an email that said: “We have temporarily suspended your inactive Ubisoft account and will be closing it permanently in 30 days in accordance with our Terms of Use.” - And my account had two games at the time.
Just curious: Had you purchased those games, or had you claimed them for free as giveaways? If you purchased them, it appears to contradict Ubisoft’s statement in the article, so that would be meaningful to know.
TL;DR They won’t delete an account that contains purchased games.
Pretty sure if they were doing that it would be a field day for lawsuits.
Oh I’m sure in the ToS it mentions that we don’t own anything and they have the right to cut access whenever they want for any reason and that you can’t sue them for it
I’m not a lawyer, but I vaguely remember hearing that Terms of Service can’t protect a company from everything. I seriously doubt a company could get away with that when it was brought to court.
yeah but proving that would cost more than any of us could ever afford
That’s what class actions are for
Don’t worry, they got it covered:
Of course, but OP brought up that they couldn’t be sued. I was just pointing out that if someone was willing to test it, I bet they could come out on top.
If it wasn’t in the terms and they deleted your account, what would you do? And would that action be different than if account deletion was outlined in a terms agreement?
Yep
And yep:
I doubt it would tbh. It’s more or less equivalent to Nintendo shutting down the eshop, or an MMO terminating its online service.
You do not own digital games, you own a license to use a service that may or may not be provided to you.
Hmm.
Pretty sure you don’t own ANY games anymore, unless you fully pirate them. The physical discs aren’t big enough to have the full game and really contain the license to play, which is why downloads and updates are prevalent before you get to play on most systems.
Is this correct or have I read incorrectly online?
If I’m correct, then my point is really that if players let this stand then a company can do anything to any game you’ve “bought”.
Depends. Some console games contain the entirety of the game. However oftentimes they still might require a system update to play, which won’t be available forever.
So yeah, you don’t really own anything.
Or if you buy them on GOG
In 2021, I got an email that said: “We have temporarily suspended your inactive Ubisoft account and will be closing it permanently in 30 days in accordance with our Terms of Use.” - And my account had two games at the time.
Just curious: Had you purchased those games, or had you claimed them for free as giveaways? If you purchased them, it appears to contradict Ubisoft’s statement in the article, so that would be meaningful to know.
Purchased! I had Steep and Star Trek Bridge Crew in my account at the time.
This was two years ago, mind, Ubis terms might have changed since then.