Ubisoft tells players to “destroy” games when online support ends - Dexerto
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Ubisoft has updated its EULA, and it’s now instructing its users to destroy their games should the title be taken offline.

Ubisoft has updated its End User License Agreement, and it’s instructing its users to remove and destroy their games completely should the title be taken offline.

Essentially, the EULA has given Ubisoft free rein on its ability to stop supporting a game, writing: “You and Ubisoft may terminate this EULA at any time, for any reason. Termination by Ubisoft will be effective upon notice to you or termination of your Ubisoft account, or at the time of Ubisoft’s decision to discontinue offering and/or supporting the Product.”

Interestingly, this isn’t the only company that has the same terms in its EULA. The likes of Capcom, Sega, and even the Oblivion Remaster have the same clause in their terms and conditions, meaning the stipulation isn’t unique to Ubisoft.

  • ImplyingImplications@lemmy.caEnglish
    7·
    3 days ago

    I get that they say this in interviews, but that is not what their user agreement says. They can remove games from your library and revoke access to your account. To my knowledge, they’ve never abused this power but it’s still in their agreement. My point is nearly every company has agreements like Ubisoft has. There’s no reason to single out theirs.

    • 🇰 🌀 🇱 🇦 🇳 🇦 🇰 🇮 @pawb.socialEnglish
      6·
      3 days ago

      What’s attempted to be singled out isn’t the “we can terminate your access at any time.” They are claiming that Ubisoft’s suggests you need to destroy the copies you already have if they stop supporting it.

      Though it doesn’t even look like that is actually the case looking at the very clause the article is quoting. It’s the standard “we can revoke your ability to download this thing at any time” shit. Where the fuck does it suggest users have to destroy their copies?

      Fucking modern “journalism…” 😑

      • ImplyingImplications@lemmy.caEnglish
        6·
        3 days ago

        But it is in Larian’s EULA

        Upon termination all licenses granted to you in this Pact shall immediately terminate and you must immediately and permanently remove the Game from your device and destroy all copies of the Game in your possession.

        And in Phasmophobia’s EULA

        10.2.3 you must immediately delete or remove the Game from all computer equipment in your possession and immediately destroy or return to us (at our option) all copies of the Game then in your possession, custody or control and, in the case of destruction, certify to us that you have done so.

        So why Ubisoft? It’s common in lots of games. Do people want to change EULAs in general or just want to hate on Ubisoft for doing something that’s common?

        • 🇰 🌀 🇱 🇦 🇳 🇦 🇰 🇮 @pawb.socialEnglish
          2·
          3 days ago

          Ubisoft is generally shit all around so maybe it’s just bias. Or maybe they do have such a clause in something, they just didn’t quote the actual relevant bits in this article.

          It’s pretty common to say “hey we can turn this off at any time and you will not be entitled to a refund and won’t be able to access anything via our online services” but this “hey if we decide to shut down the online services, you need to delete everything related to it you have on your device too” is new. And even more consumer hostile.

          If Larian goes belly up, they can suck my left nut if they think I am gonna delete BG3 off my hard-drive.

          • ImplyingImplications@lemmy.caEnglish
            2·
            3 days ago

            It’s in Ubisoft’s EULA as well

            Upon termination for any reason, You must immediately uninstall the Product and destroy all copies of the Product in Your possession.

            Even though this clause seems to be in most EULA I’ve never heard of it actually being enforced. I’m guessing it’s to prevent some kind of loophole where you can agree to an EULA, install a game, and then terminate your agreement in order to use the game without needing to follow any rules. If you can terminate the agreement at any time without needing to delete the game, then why not always do that?

            • 🇰 🌀 🇱 🇦 🇳 🇦 🇰 🇮 @pawb.socialEnglish
              1·
              3 days ago

              You probably could. Buy game, download game, make backup of game, refund game, maybe crack the game you now have backed up, play game basically for free. But it’s just piracy with extra steps. And if you do it enough, they probably will ban your account from even making purchases.