Ubisoft under pressure from shareholders
Ubisoft is facing pressure from its shareholders to provide a more concrete response to the Stop Killing Games movement, which was created by players in response to the permanent closure of access to purchased games. The demand comes after the publisher’s decision to shut down The Crew servers last March, rendering the game completely inaccessible, even for those who legally purchased it.
The movement gaining momentum
The movement was initiated by Ross Scott, the creator of the Accursed Farms channel, and quickly gained momentum among players concerned about the preservation of video games. With over one million signatures already, the campaign calls for the establishment of laws to prevent purchased games from becoming unplayable due to publisher decisions. The movement’s objective is not to mandate eternal support from companies, but to ensure that games remain playable even after the end of online server support.
Ubisoft’s response and the underlying issue
During a meeting with shareholders, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot addressed criticisms by stating that the company already notifies consumers of the need for online connectivity and potential functionality closures 30 days in advance. He also highlighted that The Crew players were offered the opportunity to purchase The Crew 2 for just one euro in a previous promotion. Guillemot emphasized that this type of decision is not exclusive to Ubisoft, as all studios are grappling with the challenge of maintaining services for old or obsolete games.
However, the company’s explanations fail to address the underlying problem of ensuring that a game can continue to operate without active support. The movement cites examples like Gran Turismo Sport and Knockout City, where studios implemented end-of-life measures that allowed users to retain access to the games even after server shutdowns.
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