“Ubisoft’s Crackdown on Inactive Gamers: Suspends Accounts, Challenging Access to Games”

Ubisoft Suspends “Inactive Accounts”, Disabling Access to Game Libraries

An Overview of the Situation

Ubisoft, one of the largest video game developers and publishers, has recently announced that it is temporarily suspending accounts it deems to be “inactive.” This decision has caused an uproar among players, as it prevents them from accessing their game libraries. Players are then sent an email notifying them of their suspended account and informing them that it will be permanently deleted in 30 days unless they click the “Cancel Account Closure” link.

The issue came to light when a Twitter user, @PC_enjoyer, shared the email they received from Ubisoft, which stated, “We noticed that you have not been using your Ubisoft account associated with [your email address]. We have temporarily suspended your inactive Ubisoft account and will be closing it permanently in 30 days in accordance with our Terms of Use.” This revelation sparked a debate among gamers who expressed concern over losing access to the games they had purchased.

In response to the backlash, the official Ubisoft Support account tweeted, “We just wanted to chime in that you can avoid the account closure by logging into your account within the 30 days 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.”

The Impact on Players

The suspension of these “inactive accounts” and the subsequent threat of permanent closure has understandably frustrated many players. Some have taken to Twitter to voice their concerns, highlighting the fact that they have purchased games from Ubisoft through platforms like Steam, and now those games are rendered useless without access to their Ubisoft account.

One player, Ponpon, replied to Ubisoft Support’s tweet, stating, “I lost my Ubisoft account, and all the Ubisoft Steam games I’ve bought are now useless.” In response, Ubisoft Support advised players to raise a support ticket if they would like to recover their account. However, this response did little to ease the concerns of those who fear losing access to their purchased games.

Interestingly, PC Gamer reports that they could not find any mention of this account closure policy in Ubisoft‘s US terms of use or end-user license agreement. Nonetheless, Ubisoft reserves the right to suspend or end services at any time. It remains unclear how often players need to log into their Ubisoft accounts to prevent them from being tagged as “inactive.”

The Legal and Ethical Questions

While Ubisoft has not provided a clear rationale for the suspension of “inactive accounts,” Twitter users have added some context to the situation. They argue that under certain data protection laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Ubisoft may be required to close inactive accounts if they deem the data collected is no longer necessary. Additionally, Ubisoft has claimed that they do not close accounts that have been inactive for less than four years.

This raises several legal and ethical questions. Should a video game company have the power to disable or delete accounts without proper justification? Should players lose access to their purchased games simply because they have not logged into their accounts for a particular period? The gaming community and industry stakeholders must consider these questions to ensure that both the rights of players and the responsibilities of game developers are respected.

Advice for Players

To avoid losing access to their game libraries and accounts, players who receive an email from Ubisoft notifying them of account suspension should log into their accounts within the 30-day window and select the “Cancel Account Closure” link contained in the email. If any difficulties arise during the process, players are encouraged to create a support case with Ubisoft.

However, given the lack of transparency and controversy surrounding this issue, players may also consider reaching out to consumer advocacy groups or seeking legal advice to assess their rights and options.

Overall, this incident with Ubisoft serves as a reminder that players should be vigilant about their online accounts and regularly log in to prevent any unforeseen consequences. It also emphasizes the importance of questioning and engaging in discussions surrounding the policies and practices of video game companies to ensure the preservation of consumer rights.