Ubisoft faces backlash over account deactivation message and removal of unplayed games from libraries
A Ubisoft account deactivation message is causing some upset among PC users, as the company says it will close inactive accounts and remove purchased, but currently unplayed games from libraries. Players say this is occurring even when they are active, and that the warning is not transparent regarding the amount of time they have to log back in and restore their game library. Others say it is an attempt to encourage repurchasing and discourage piracy, while others say they will boycott Ubisoft products.
Users say they are receiving a message saying, “If you do not log in to your Uplay account within 30 days, your account will be deactivated and your games will be removed.” Concerns about a potential lawsuit and the negative impact on customer loyalty arise, as well as the fact that some users say this lack of significant game releases in recent years means they have unplayed games in their libraries.
“My Uplay library is empty,” one user says, “but I’m still getting this warning.” Another says, “I haven’t played a Ubisoft game in years and I still have unplayed games in my library.” Some users then say that this move is an attempt to encourage repurchasing and discourage piracy, saying that Ubisoft is trying to make their games more valuable. Another says, “Microsoft will acquire Ubisoft,” which I think is the funniest response.
Many users say they will boycott Ubisoft products if their accounts are closed and any games they do not personally own are taken off their libraries. Others say they prefer physical game copies and that this is how they ensure ownership. There is also discussion around the price difference between physical and digital games.
“I don’t mind digital games being cheaper,” one user says, “but I wish physical games were cheaper too,” to which another replies, “physical games are cheaper in some regions. I live in Africa and have both Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Red Dead Redemption 2 on disc, and both of them cost less than the digital versions that are available here.”
“One day we’ll have game subscription services and there will be no such thing as ownership,” another user says, “but until then, I’ll stick to my discs,” to which someone replies, “don’t you have a digital library?” to which they reply, “I do, but I’ll be damned if they take it away from me.”
Many users then express their dissatisfaction with Ubisoft’s customer support and game quality, saying that they will no longer be purchasing their games. Some users then say they will avoid future Ubisoft purchases, but do not express a complete boycott. Other comments express the decision to boycott Ubisoft entirely.
“I haven’t been playing Far Cry 6,” one user says, “but I can’t log in to my account to check if it’s still there,” to which another replies, “I never play Ubisoft games either.” Another user then says, “I am planning to play Assassin’s Creed Rebellion, but with this news, I will not be buying it digitally.”
Some users then express concern about the lack of transparency regarding the time limit for account closure, with some saying they have looked at another post that suggests the time limit is one month. You can see this post, allegedly from another Ubisoft employee, here:
There is also much discussion around the licensing restrictions regarding digital content, and the potential loss of access to this content in the future. Some users also discuss the impact on games owned on Steam, and the need for a new account if the current one is closed.
“I bought Assassin’s Creed Rebellion on Steam and I have an active account,” one user says, “so I’m not sure what to do if the game is removed from Steam.” Another replies, “if that happens, I suggest you request a refund for the game.” Another user says, “I just received an email about account inactivity and there’s an option to cancel deactivation,” with another reply saying, “I received a similar email, but I already checked my Uplay library and my games are still there.”
“I hate Ubisoft,” another user says, “but I understand the benefits of digital games. I don’t have enough space to keep all my games, and digital games are more convenient.” Another user then says, “I also want to consolidate all my games onto a single platform, like Steam, and I don’t want to buy a new account.”
“I check my Ubisoft account more often now,” another user says, “because I really don’t want to lose any of my games.” Another user asks, “who plays Ubisoft games?” to which other users reply, “I do,” or, “I used to.”
