What the actual hell, Ubisoft? Ubisoft has been thrusted under the spotlight big time as their policy of DEACTIVIATING and DISABLING their userbases’ access to purchased video games due to inactivity has been getting criticized heavily.
This is actually one of the most threatening issues to happen to the gaming world if it’s not corrected.
Ubisoft has doubled down and openly stated its commitment to its account deactivation policy over user inactivity after being called out for on Twitter. And, as I just said, this is such a massive issue in the gaming world that it could change the very trajectory of the industry if widely adapted.
For those who have no idea what I’m talking about, Ubisoft has recently come under fire for one of its inactivity policies as the company doubled down on deactivating user accounts if they’re inactive for too long.
And, with said deactivations, Ubisoft also restricts access to any digitally purchased game from their collection and completely removes all existence of said purchase from one’s account, essentially taking away your access to a game you PAID FOR just because you didn’t play it long enough for their liking.
The official statement from Ubisoft’s Customer Service/Support Twitter account is, “Hey there. We just wanted to chime in that you can avoid the account closure by logging into your account within the 30 days (since receiving the email pictured) and selecting the Cancel Account Closure link contained in the email. We certainly do not want you to lose access to your games or account so if you have any difficulties logging in then please create a support case with us.”
This is utter insanity!!!!
Now, I really hope I don’t have to tell you how ludicrous this policy is as it not only FORCES us to play Ubisoft games whether we like it or not to avoid our entire accounts being suspended and access to paid-for video games terminated, but it also is essentially stealing everyone’s hard earned money through legal loopholes.
I’m sure this isn’t technically stealing under U.S. law as I’m sure this practice is buried in the terms of service (they always are), but it’s one of the shadiest and crony corporate business practices I’ve ever seen. How can you take away someone’s right to play a game after they spent anywhere from $60-$100 on it just because they haven’t played said game for 6 months or so?
Is it not one’s right to play a game whenever they want, however they want, and in whichever way they want? I didn’t realize the corporate heads over at Ubisoft were massive Puritans as these policies are so restrictive in how they want us to play their games and for how long.
If Ubisoft REALLY wanted us players to play their games for millions of hours straight, then they should start making good games that aren’t either buggy mess, copycatted mechanics from an earlier, more successful title, constant remakes and sequels to drawn out franchises, plagued with boring plotlines, side quest, and character, and/or just downright overpriced flops.
Forcing us to play the games with the fear that we’ll lose hundreds of dollars and thousands of hours if we don’t play long enough not only fringes on illegality and criminality (in my humble opinion), but it also harbors extraordinary resentment towards the person or company doing it. And, in this case, it’s Ubisoft.
(Ubisoft-Far Cry 3-Stranded Trailer)
I know I’m not going to play another Ubisoft game or review one so long as this policy lasts as there’s just too high of a chance I get locked out of my account and lose hundreds of dollars on something I PURCHASED. And I know I can’t be the only one to think this way.
Ubisoft better get its head out of its ass or else they’ll be closing down a lot of inactive accounts due to unhappy, protesting fans.
Images Source: Featured Image: (Ubisoft) (Assassin’s Creed Unity E3 2014 World Premiere Cinematic Trailer [EUROPE] – YouTube)
In Text Image 1: (Ubisoft) (Far Cry 3 – Stranded Trailer [UK] – YouTube)
