Ubisoft’s the Crew was already shut down back in March of 2024. This set a very bad tone for how these types of games wouldn’t be ideal. Now, in 2026, Ubisoft, the publisher of the game, is still being sued by another entity, but is there a case to it or not?
Who is suing Ubisoft now?
Ubisoft is being sued by UFC-Que Choisir. It is a French consumer association that is out for the protection of French consumers. Ubisoft is a French-founded company, so maybe this case has merit. Regardless, if they are suing for the consumers, or for personal gains, this is just another headache for Ubisoft, and they aren’t doing so well right now financially, and everything else.
This lawsuit, though, isn’t just for financial compensation. According to the reports, they want the game to be at least available, despite being an offline version of it. They say it is unfair for people who bought the game to have it taken down with no warning and no compensation. Whether this lawsuit progresses, we can’t really say for now.
What is the Crew?
There are a lot of sequels, but the one in question was the game released in 2014. The first game in the series introduced players to a scaled-down but still enormous recreation of the contiguous United States. Set in this expansive open world, the story follows Alex Taylor, who teams up with an FBI agent to infiltrate a criminal street racing syndicate called the 5-10 Motor Club and seek revenge for his brother’s murder. Gameplay revolves around completing missions, street races, and skill challenges while upgrading and customizing a large collection of cars.
The game was designed as an always-online experience, meaning players needed an internet connection even for solo play. It stood out for its seamless cross-country driving without loading screens and its mix of role-playing elements, such as earning respect and progressing through ranks. Expansions like Wild Run and Calling All Units added new vehicles, including off-road options and police chases, along with fresh content to keep the community engaged.
Why was it shut down?
Ubisoft explained the shutdown as a result of “server infrastructure and licensing constraints” after supporting the game for nearly a decade. The company stated that maintaining the online services had become unsustainable due to the costs of running the servers and the need to renew various licenses, particularly those related to vehicles and other licensed content. By closing the servers for older legacy titles like The Crew, Ubisoft aimed to redirect its resources toward newer and more popular games in the franchise, such as The Crew 2 and The Crew Motorfest.
The publisher also delisted the original game from all digital storefronts in late 2023, preventing new purchases while offering refunds only to those who had bought it recently. There is no other way for you to play the Crew today. You’ll just have to settle for their sequel titles, but a lot of people have moved on. After all, the game was already 10 years old when it got shut down, so at least people probably got some kind of mileage out of it.
