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Valve allows ISPs and payment processors to censor content on Steam

2025-08-16T15:24:31Z

2001:1C04:3407:1000:2514:9289:F734:4622: Fixed typo.

{{OngoingEvent}}{{Incomplete}}

At an unknown date in 2025, [[Valve]] updated its Rules and Guidelines for developers on [[Steam]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Steamworks Documentation - Onboarding |url=https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/gettingstarted/onboarding |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250719092925/https://partner.steamgames.com/doc/gettingstarted/onboarding |archive-date=Jul 19, 2025 |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |website=Steamworks Documentation}}</ref> Within these rules, they granted [[wikt:Internet_service_provider|internet service providers]] (ISPs) and banks/transaction providers the power to delist games from their platform.<ref>{{Cite news |last=techopse |date=Jul 18, 2025 |title=Valve Submits to VISA and MasterCard's Moral Crusade, Escalating Censorship of "Problematic" Games on Steam |url=https://www.techopse.com/valve-submits-to-visa-and-mastercards-moral-crusade-escalating-censorship-of-problematic-games-on-steam/ |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |work=Techopse}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Bonk |first=Lawrence |date=Jul 16, 2025 |title=Steam now bans games that violate the 'rules and standards' of payment processors and banks |url=https://www.engadget.com/gaming/steam-now-bans-games-that-violate-the-rules-and-standards-of-payment-processors-and-banks-164222173.html |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |work=Engadget}}</ref> Consumers have shown considerable criticism despite the nature of the content removed from the platform due to the vagueness of these rules leaving a window open for expanded censorship.

==Background==
===Steam's content policies===
Prior to 2025, Steam maintained a permissive stance towards adult content, following their 2018 policy change that allowed "everything" except illegal content or "obvious trolling."<ref>{{Cite news |title=Steam rules updated to prohibit content that violates rules set forth by payment processors and banks |url=https://automaton-media.com/en/news/steam-rules-updated-to-prohibit-content-that-violates-rules-set-forth-by-payment-processors-and-banks/ |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |work=AUTOMATON WEST}}</ref> This policy allowed a diverse range of adult-oriented games on the platform, including visual novels, dating simulators, & games with mature themes.

===Payment processor precedents===
The gaming industry observed similar payment processor interventions in other digital platforms. In December 2020, Mastercard & VISA suspended services to Pornhub following allegations of illegal content, resulting in the removal of over 10 million videos from the platform.<ref>{{Cite news |date=Dec 14, 2020 |title=Mastercard, Visa and Discover cut ties with Pornhub following allegations of child abuse |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/14/business/mastercard-visa-discover-pornhub/index.html |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=CNN Business}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=Dec 10, 2020 |title=Mastercard severs ties with Pornhub, citing illegal content |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/12/10/pornhub-mastercard-ban-mindgeek/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=The Washington Post}}</ref>

==Unfair content policy creation==

At an unknown time within 2025, the Rules and Guidelines for developers on [[Steam]]<ref name=":0" /> was updated by [[Valve]] due to pressures from payment vendors to delist content published with excessively mature content,<ref name=":1" /> however due to the vagueness of the following new rule within the policy:

<blockquote>15. Content that may violate the rules and standards set forth by Steam's payment processors and related card networks and banks, or internet network providers. In particular, certain kinds of adult only content.</blockquote>

Has brought concern from consumers and the press, as this enables payment processors, banks, and even ISPs to delist content based on what they solely deem to be unsuitable, which may extend beyond sexually explicit content.

===Timeline of events===
====July 11, 2025: Collective Shout campaign====
The Australian advocacy group [[Collective Shout]], which also defended the film "Cuties" that used underage girls<ref>{{Cite web |title=Collective Shout, Censorship, and Consequences: A Closer Look {{!}} by Just a guy honestly... Kan {{!}} Jul, 2025 {{!}} Medium |url=https://medium.com/@kanquests/collective-shout-censorship-and-consequences-a-closer-look-9a5fdf1dcec4}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Collective Shout defended the "child exploitation" film Cuties (harmless fiction) . But they lied and attacked DETROIT BECOME HUMAN (harmless fiction). {{!}} by VolkColopatrion {{!}} Jul, 2025 {{!}} Medium |url=https://medium.com/@volkcolopatrion4/collective-shout-defended-the-child-exploitation-film-cuties-72195004572a}}</ref> published an open letter to payment processors titled '''"Open letter to payment processors profiting from rape, incest + child abuse games on Steam."'''<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=Jul 11, 2025 |title=Open letter to payment processors profiting from rape, incest + child abuse games on Steam |url=https://www.collectiveshout.org/open-letter-to-payment-processors |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |website=Collective Shout}}</ref> The letter was addressed to the CEOs of PayPal, Mastercard, & Visa, demanding they ''"immediately cease processing payments on Steam and itch.io."''<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |date=Jul 17, 2025 |title=Australian anti-porn group claims responsibility for Steam's new censorship rules in victory against 'porn sick brain rotted pedo gamer fetishists', and things only get weirder from there |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/australian-anti-porn-group-claims-responsibility-for-steams-new-censorship-rules-in-victory-against-porn-sick-brain-rotted-pedo-gamer-fetishists-and-things-only-get-weirder-from-there/ |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |work=PC Gamer}}</ref>

====July 12, 2025: PayPal blocks Steam in most countries====
Starting on July 12, many Steam users from other countries took to Reddit to ask why PayPal had stopped functioning.<ref>{{Cite web |title=paypal temporarily disabled since?|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/1lxtux9/paypal_temporarily_disabled_since/|access-date=Aug 16, 2025}}</ref>

====July 15-16, 2025: Rule implementation====
Steam updated its developer guidelines to include Rule 15.<ref name=":1" /> SteamDB tracking indicated that over 100 games were removed from the platform within 16 hours of the policy change.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Hamilton |first=Phillip |date=Jul 18, 2025 |title=Steam Payment Processor Update / Collective Shout Controversy |url=https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/events/steam-payment-processor-update-collective-shout-controversy |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |work=Know Your Meme}}</ref> The removed games primarily featured adult themes, with particular focus on titles containing incest narratives, sexual violence simulations, or slavery themes.<ref>{{Cite news |date=Jul 16, 2025 |title=Steam takes down tons of porn games after new rule — here's what changed |url=https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/steam-takes-down-tons-of-porn-games-cracks-down-on-certain-kinds-of-adult-only-content |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |work=Windows Central}}</ref>

====July 17, 2025: Collective Shout claims victory====
Collective Shout published a follow-up article claiming credit for the policy change, titled "Win – New policy on Steam and rape + incest games removed."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Win – New policy on Steam and rape + incest games removed |url=https://www.collectiveshout.org/win-new-steam-policy-games-removed |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |website=Collective Shout}}</ref> Co-founder Melinda Tankard Reist made statements that were characterized by gaming media as inflammatory.<ref name=":4" />

====August 1, 2025: Mastercard responds, Valve clarifies====
In an article by games journalist website Kotaku, Mastercard had responded by claiming "Mastercard has not evaluated any game or required restrictions of any activity on game creator sites and platforms, contrary to media reports and allegations", However, Vale responded within the same day clarifying "Mastercard did not communicate with Valve directly, despite our request to do so, Mastercard communicated with payment processors and their acquiring banks. Payment processors communicated this with Valve, and we replied by outlining Steam’s policy since 2018 of attempting to distribute games that are legal for distribution. Payment processors rejected this, and specifically cited Mastercard’s Rule 5.12.7 and risk to the Mastercard brand.", where MasterCard rule 5.12.7 states "A Merchant must not submit to its Acquirer, and a Customer must not submit to the Interchange System, any Transaction that is illegal, or in the sole discretion of the Corporation, may damage the goodwill of the Corporation or reflect negatively on the Marks."<ref>{{Cite news |title=Mastercard Denies Pressuring Steam To Censor ‘NSFW’ Games, Update: Valve Responds|url=https://kotaku.com/mastercard-denies-pressuring-steam-to-censor-nsfw-games-2000614393|access-date=Aug 16, 2025}}</ref>

====August 9, 2025: MasterCard censors public chatrooms====
The games journalist who had their articles removed from Vice's website later mentioned that a source had told them that MasterCard, as a major sponsor for "League of Legends" eSports tournaments, had required Riot Games (game developer of League of Legends) to censor any negative comments about this issue on the official livestreams, as well as on the livestreams of content creators who work directly with Riot Games <ref>{{Cite web |title=Ana Valens, BlueSky|url=https://bsky.app/profile/acvalens.net/post/3lvw2ukqlb22h|access-date=Aug 16, 2025}}</ref>

====August 14, 2025: Valve confirms PayPal issues are related to the Mastercard issue====
In an article by games journalist website RockPaperShotgun, Valve clarifies "In early July 2025, PayPal notified Valve that their acquiring bank for payment transactions in certain currencies was immediately terminating the processing of any transactions related to Steam," Valve wrote. "This affects Steam purchases using PayPal in currencies other than EUR, CAD, GBP, JPY, AUD and USD.". This affects most countries, especially Eastern Europe, South America, and Asia, who cannot use PayPal for payments on Steam since July 12th.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Valve explain why using PayPal for Steam purchases isn't currently an option in a whole bunch of countries|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/valve-explain-why-using-paypal-for-steam-purchases-isnt-currently-an-option-in-a-whole-bunch-of-countries|access-date=Aug 16, 2025}}</ref>

Currently, the content being removed from the platform has included excessively sexual and mature topics,<ref name=":2" /> however, no significant game without this questionable content has been labeled as ''retired'' according to SteamDB currently.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SteamDB History |url=https://steamdb.info/history/events/ |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |website=SteamDB}}</ref>

===Valve's response===
The gaming news website Gaming on Linux contacted Valve regarding the matter, with its press team responding with:<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dawe |first=Liam |date=16 Jul 2025 |title=Valve gets pressured by payment processors with a new rule for game devs and various adult games removed |url=https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2025/07/valve-gets-pressured-by-payment-processors-with-a-new-rule-for-game-devs-and-various-adult-games-removed/ |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |work=Gaming on Linux}}</ref>

<blockquote>We were recently notified that certain games on Steam may violate the rules and standards set forth by our payment processors and their related card networks and banks. As a result, we are retiring those games from being sold on the Steam Store, because loss of payment methods would prevent customers from being able to purchase other titles and game content on Steam.

We are directly notifying developers of these games, and issuing app credits should they have another game they'd like to distribute on Steam in the future.</blockquote>

GamesRadar+ reported that Valve confirmed the removals were due to pressure from banks and card companies, with the company stating that losing payment methods would prevent customers from purchasing any content on the platform.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Valve confirms pressure from banks and card companies is to blame for the storefront axing adult Steam games |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/valve-confirms-pressure-from-banks-and-card-companies-is-to-blame-for-the-storefront-axing-adult-steam-games-loss-of-payment-methods-would-prevent-customers-from-being-able-to-purchase-other-titles/ |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |work=GamesRadar+}}</ref>

==Impact on other platforms==
===Itch.io===
On July 19, 2025, the indie gaming platform itch.io announced it would be "deindexing" adult content due to payment processor scrutiny.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Itch.io is removing NSFW games to comply with payment processors' rules |url=https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/itchio-is-removing-nsfw-games-to-comply-with-payment-processors-rules-133045491.html |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=Engadget}}</ref> The platform's founder, Leaf Corcoran, stated they were "actively reaching out to other payment processors" and acknowledged having "limited ability to push back" compared to larger platforms like Valve.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Itch.io is 'actively reaching out to other payment processors' after pressure from credit card companies to curtail NSFW content |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/gaming-industry/game-development/itch-io-is-actively-reaching-out-to-other-payment-processors-after-pressure-from-credit-card-companies-to-curtail-nsfw-content-and-that-compared-to-valve-it-has-limited-ability-to-push-back/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=PC Gamer}}</ref>

Rascal News reported that itch.io had deindexed over 21,000 adult games, making them invisible in searches while technically remaining hosted.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Itch.io delists, bans games under pressure from payment processors and an Australian anti-porn group [Updated] |url=https://www.rascal.news/itch-io-delists-bans-games-under-pressure-from-payment-processors-and-an-australian-anti-porn-group/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=Rascal News}}</ref> The platform later announced that free adult content would be re-indexed with improved content warnings.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Update on NSFW content |url=https://itch.io/updates/update-on-nsfw-content |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |website=itch.io}}</ref>

The deindexing of itch.io games has significantly affected the Queer and Furry communities who hosted a lot of popular Visual Novel (Interactive Story) games on that website, some of which did not contain any erotica but were labelled as NSFW just because of containing story themes about queer people. Because of this, a large amount of users from BlueSky have organised a few campaigns against payment companies, including the creation of certain posters and websites as a call to action. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Stop Payment Processors from censorship! #SaveSpeech|url=https://stop-paypros.neocities.org/|access-date=Aug 16, 2025}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |title=Protect Queer Creators and Sex Workers - Tell Payment Processors to STOP|url=https://yellat.money/|access-date=Aug 16, 2025}}</ref>

==Consumer response==

Consumer response is currently split, while many recognize that the content that has been taken down so far contains questionable topics,<ref>{{Cite web |last=u/HelloitsWojan |date=Jul 16, 2025 |title=Steam has added a new rule disallowing games that violate the rules and standards set forth by payment processors and card networks, or internet network providers. At the same time, many incest themed games were removed from the store. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/1m17v49/steam_has_added_a_new_rule_disallowing_games_that/ |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> a majority both notice and dread the flaws of allowing third-parties to control what content would be allowed to be sold on [[Steam]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=OhNoItsAlexx |date=Jul 18, 2025 |title=The Steam Censorship Situation Is INSANE |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fqqw53LTf7A |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=SomeOrdinaryGamers |date=Jul 18, 2025 |title=Steam's Payment Processor Censorship Controversy... |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEflTJjtn5w |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> A [[Reddit]] post written by u/TeaLycan shared their concerns about how the new rule can be abused to unfairly delist content via nondescript rules on the platform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=u/TeaLycan |date=Jul 16, 2025 |title=Concerned about Payment Processors policing Steam |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Steam/comments/1m167jz/concerned_about_payment_processors_policing_steam/ |access-date=Jul 19, 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>

===Petitions and organized campaigns===
A Change.org petition titled "Tell MasterCard, Visa & Activist Groups: Stop Controlling What We Can Watch, Read, or Play" gained over 200,000 signatures.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tell MasterCard, Visa & Activist Groups: Stop Controlling What We Can Watch, Read, or Play |url=https://www.change.org/p/tell-mastercard-visa-activist-groups-stop-controlling-what-we-can-watch-read-or-play |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |website=Change.org}}</ref> Game Rant reported that the petition was "blowing up" as Steam users rallied against the censorship.<ref>{{Cite news |title=New Steam Petition is Blowing Up |url=https://gamerant.com/steam-anti-censorship-petition-adult-games-popular/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=Game Rant}}</ref>

TheGamer reported that Steam users were coordinating campaigns to contact Visa directly about the game removals.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Steam Users Are Banding Together To Contact Visa Over Removal Of Adult Games |url=https://www.thegamer.com/steam-gaming-industry-visa-payment-processors-adult-games-banned/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=TheGamer}}</ref> TweakTown later reported that Visa had responded to the backlash, though the company's statement did not directly address the Steam situation.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Visa responds to backlash over its moral policing of video games on Steam |url=https://www.tweaktown.com/news/106699/visa-responds-to-backlash-over-its-moral-policing-of-video-games-on-steam/index.html |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=TweakTown}}</ref>

Due to itch.io games removal significantly affecting queer people, users cereza.zome and meltingcomet.com from BlueSky created websites full of activism information and sources.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stop Payment Processors from censorship! #SaveSpeech|url=https://stop-paypros.neocities.org/|access-date=Aug 16, 2025}}</ref> <ref>{{Cite web |title=Protect Queer Creators and Sex Workers - Tell Payment Processors to STOP|url=https://yellat.money/|access-date=Aug 16, 2025}}</ref>

===Community discussions===
Steam Community forums saw extensive discussion about the payment processor influence, with users expressing concern about the precedent being set.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Visa and Mastercard delisting games :: Steam Discussions |url=https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/0/601910081412467067/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |website=Steam Community}}</ref> PC Gamer characterized the new rule as putting "the kibosh on 'certain kinds of adult only content' that make Visa and Mastercard sad."<ref>{{Cite news |title=Steam's got a new rule that puts the kibosh on 'certain kinds of adult only content' that make Visa and Mastercard sad |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/software/platforms/steam-introduces-new-rule-prohibiting-certain-kinds-of-adult-content-that-might-make-visa-or-mastercard-unhappy-financial-deplatforming-in-action/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=PC Gamer}}</ref>

Consumers have linked this incident<ref name=":2" /> to an open letter written by the lobbyist group ''Collective Shout'',<ref name=":3" /> especially since the delisted content matched closely to the content decried by the aforementioned letter.

It has also raised questions about the dominance of traditional payment providers and users have been suggesting various open and privacy friendly alternatives to established systems that would not allow for such influence to be exercised on the kinds of goods being sold and could even allow for anonymity when purchasing digital goods.<ref>{{Cite web |title= You could use GNU Taler which simply digitalizes cash transactions even providing the buyer anonymity. That is just using existing currencies like the Euro. So that would work on whole EU scale. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/linux_gaming/comments/1m18fj4/comment/n3ffcmh/|author=u/TheJackiMonster|work=Reddit|date=2025-07-16|access-date=2025-08-04}}</ref>

==Industry and media response==
===Game developers===
The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) issued a statement expressing concern about the removals, stating that they were "materially harmful to game developers" and that games featuring "consensual adult content, including queer, kink-positive, or romantic narratives, are easily targeted under vague or overly cautious enforcement."<ref>{{Cite news |title=Game industry fires back as certain adult games continue to be delisted from Steam and Itch.io |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/games/game-industry-fires-back-as-certain-adult-games-continue-to-be-delisted-from-steam-and-itch-io-financial-institutions-are-now-influencing-which-stories-can-be-told-and-sold-in-games/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=GamesRadar+}}</ref>

NoobFeed reported that multiple developers were caught off-guard by the sudden removals, with many learning about their games' delisting through community reports rather than direct notification from Valve.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Steam Under Fire After Game Removals Spark Payment Processor Controversy |url=https://www.noobfeed.com/news/steam-game-removal-payment-processor-controversy |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=NoobFeed}}</ref>

===Gaming media coverage===
Kotaku published an article titled "The War Over Credit Cards Censoring Games Is Just Getting Started,".<ref>{{Cite news |title=The War Over Credit Cards Censoring Games Is Just Getting Started |url=https://kotaku.com/steam-itch-io-sex-game-nsfw-censor-visa-mastercard-1851787281 |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=Kotaku}}</ref>

VICE reported on user anger toward Valve for "Banning Adult-Only Games off Its Platform."<ref>{{Cite news |title=Steam Users Are Mad at Valve for Banning Adult-Only Games off Its Platform |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/steam-users-are-mad-at-valve-for-banning-adult-only-games-off-its-platform/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=VICE}}</ref>

NotebookCheck reported that journalists investigating the censorship had resigned from their positions, though specific details were not provided.<ref>{{Cite news |title=After payment processors prompt removal of Steam games, journalists investigating the censorship resign |url=https://www.notebookcheck.net/After-payment-processors-prompt-removal-of-Steam-games-journalists-investigating-the-censorship-resign.1063259.0.html |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=NotebookCheck}}</ref>

==Alternative payment methods==
===Cryptocurrency options===
Following the controversy, services offering Steam gift cards for cryptocurrency got more attention. PayRam reported a 300% increase in gaming-related cryptocurrency transactions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=STEAM'S SHOCK RULE 15: How Payment Giants Seized Control & Your 2025 Survival Guide |url=https://payram.com/blog/steams-shock-rule-15-how-payment-giants-seized-control-your-2025-survival-guide |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |website=PayRam}}</ref> Multiple services including Bitrefill, Coinsbee, and CryptoRefills offer Steam gift cards you can buy with different cryptocurrencies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buy Steam Gift Card with Bitcoin, USDT, ETH or Crypto |url=https://www.bitrefill.com/us/en/gift-cards/steam-usa/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |website=Bitrefill}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Buy Steam gift card with Crypto |url=https://www.cryptorefills.com/en/steam-bitcoin |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |website=CryptoRefills}}</ref>

Steam previously accepted Bitcoin directly from 2016 to 2017 but discontinued the service citing high fees and volatility.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steam is no longer supporting Bitcoin |url=https://steamcommunity.com/games/593110/announcements/detail/1464096684955433613 |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |website=Steam Community}}</ref>

==Scary precedents set==
===Financial censorship concerns===
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has characterized payment processor restrictions as creating ''"choke points to accomplish widespread censorship."''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Financial Censorship |url=https://www.eff.org/issues/financial-censorship |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |website=Electronic Frontier Foundation}}</ref> The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) issued a statement on free speech and online payment processors, noting concerns about the expanding influence of financial intermediaries on digital content.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FIRE Statement on Free Speech and Online Payment Processors |url=https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/fire-statement-free-speech-and-online-payment-processors |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |website=The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression}}</ref>

Aftermath published an article titled ''"Controversial Opinion, But Faceless Payment Processors Probably Shouldn't Be Able To Run The Whole World From The Shadows,"'' bringing up concerns about unaccountable [[financial censorship]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Controversial Opinion, But Faceless Payment Processors Probably Shouldn't Be Able To Run The Whole World From The Shadows |url=https://aftermath.site/aftermath-hours-podcast-steam-itch-porn-payment-processors |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=Aftermath}}</ref>

===International responses===
CBC Radio reported on the situation as "How an anti-porn lobby on payment processors censored thousands of video games."<ref>{{Cite news |title=How an anti-porn lobby on payment processors censored thousands of video games |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/day6/steam-itch-takedowns-credit-cards-1.7597563 |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=CBC Radio}}</ref>

Japanese gaming news outlet GIGAZINE reported that "'Gamer Outrage' became a trending topic on Japan's X (formerly Twitter)" following the removals and Collective Shout's statements.<ref>{{Cite news |title=After Steam removed a large number of adult games, an anti-pornography group declared a 'victory against pedophile gamers' |url=https://gigazine.net/gsc_news/en/20250722-steam-introduced-confusing-new-rules-adult-content/ |access-date=Jul 20, 2025 |work=GIGAZINE}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[Collective Shout]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Valve Corporation]]
[[Category:Incidents]]

Stop Killing Games

2025-08-16T15:18:24Z

2001:1C04:3407:1000:2514:9289:F734:4622: Typo fixed.

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Stop Killing Games
| Type = Public Campaign
| Founded = 2024
| Industry = Video Game Consumer Rights
| Official Website = https://www.stopkillinggames.com/
| Logo = Stop killing games.jpeg
}}

'''Stop Killing Games''' ('''SKG''') is a campaign intended to spread awareness regarding publishers revoking licenses for consumers and removing game functionality so that they are no longer in a playable state. The campaign was announced on April 2, 2024 by Accursed Farms, better known as Ross W. Scott, an American YouTuber and consumer activist who is best known for his [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SQhfkpX9bc&list=PL6PNZBb6b9LvDWpI-5CPYUxG1Rnm-vr9V Freeman's Mind] series.

==Campaign history==
On April 2, 2024, Accursed Farms posted the video "The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games"<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70Xc9CStoE "The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games"] ''Accursed Farms.'' April 2, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2025.</ref>. In the video, Ross Scott explains the issue with modern gaming, where video game publishers often take advantage of laws.

Ross W. Scott has a history of advocating for game preservation and decrying what he calls "war on ownership" for over 12 years<ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=12 May 2025 |title=Stop Killing Games: A History |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlOX3wRQvUg |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=Mrglanet YouTube Channel}}</ref>.

===UK Parliament petition===
On April 16, 2024, a UK Parliament petition titled "Require videogame publishers to keep games they have sold in a working state"<ref name=":0">[https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/659071 "Require videogame publishers to keep games they have sold in a working state"] ''UK Parliament Petitions.'' December 2023. Retrieved January 24, 2025.</ref> began collecting signatures. The petition intended to create laws to prevent publishers from removing the ability to play games after purchase. The UK government answered on May 2, 2024 but the petitions committee requested Government to revise their response<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 May 2024 |title=UK Original petition: Require videogame publishers to keep games they have sold in a working state |url=https://petition.parliament.uk/archived/petitions/659071 |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=UK Parliament Petitions (archive)}}</ref> . The petition was subsequently closed on May 30, 2024 due to the UK general elections<ref name=":0" />, preventing further signatures. It reached 27,341 signatures and was originally scheduled to close on October 16, 2024<ref>[https://www.gamesindustry.biz/uk-government-responds-to-stop-killing-games-campaign "UK government responds to Stop Killing Games campaign"] ''Games Industry.'' May 15, 2024. Retrieved on January 24, 2025.</ref>.

On January 14, 2025, Lewis Evans created a petition titled "Prohibit publishers irrevocably disabling video games they have already sold"<ref name=":1">[https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/702074/ "Prohibit publishers irrevocably disabling video games they have already sold"] ''UK Parliament Petitions.'' January 14, 2025. Retrieved January 24, 2025.</ref> closely following the prematurely closed petition in 2024. It is yet to receive a government response and is due for one on January 30. Ross Scott published a video listing the events of the original petition, the government response and the creation of new petition<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 Jan 2025 |title=Stop Killing Games: UK Edition |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQnZ91mUB0E |access-date=2025-07-08 |website=Accursed Farms}}</ref>

On February 3, 2025, The UK Government responded to the Petition, “There are no plans to amend UK consumer law on disabling video games. Those selling games must comply with existing requirements in consumer law, and we will continue to monitor this issue.”<ref name=":1" /> As of July 2nd, 2025, the petition reached the goal of 100,000 signatures to be considered for debate in the UK Parliament.

===European Citizens' Initiative===
On June 19, 2024, "Stop Destroying Videogames"<ref>[https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/details/2024/000007_en "Stop Destroying Videogames"] ''European Citizens' Initiative.'' 19 July, 2024. Retrieved on January 24, 2025.</ref> was registered as a European Citizens' Initiative by Daniel Ondruska. A month and a half later, on July 31, 2024, the initiative began collecting signatures. Accursed Farms posted the video "Europeans can save gaming!"<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mkMe9MxxZiI "Europeans can save gaming!"] ''Accursed Farms.'' July 31, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2025.</ref> later on the same day, encouraging European citizens to sign the initiative.

About a week later, Thor of Pirate Software published a video covering SKG, with the intent to negatively criticize SKG.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioqSvLqB46Y "Stop Killing Games" response video] ''Pirate Software.'' August 6, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2025.</ref> Ross from Accursed Farms attempted to contact Thor about having false assumptions of the campaign's objectives. Ross cited Pirate Software's video as the primary cause for signatures drying up on the European Citizens' Initiative petition. Ross stated that they did not initially make a response video directed at Thor, because "it might look like drama farming" for the campaign, but when the deadline started drawing near, Ross went through with making a response on June 23, 2025 as a last-ditch effort to save the campaign.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIfRLujXtUo "The end of Stop Killing Games"] ''Accursed Farms.'' June 23, 2025. Retrieved June 27, 2025.</ref>

For a European citizens' initiative to be valid, it must obtain at least one million valid signatures and meet the minimum thresholds in at least seven countries. The deadline of the initiative is on July 31, 2025. As of June 25th, 2025, there are over 500,000 signatures and the threshold has passed for over ten countries.

As of July 3, 2025, the European campaign has reached its goal of 1,000,000 signatures.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stop Destroying Videogames |url=https://eci.ec.europa.eu/045/public/#/screen/home |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250703072953/https://eci.ec.europa.eu/045/public/#/screen/home |archive-date=2025-07-03 |access-date=2025-07-03 |website=European Union Online Collection System}}</ref>

The collection of signatures ended by August 1, 2025, with a total of 1,448,270 and 24 out of 27 state members crossing the minimum thresholds. In the following three months, the signatures will be verified and validated by all state members.

===Industry push back===
On July 4, 2025, one day after the campaign reaching 1,000,000 signature Video Games Europe, an industry lobby group, released an statement on Stop Killing Games<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 Jul 2025 |title=Statement on Stop Killing Games |url=https://www.videogameseurope.eu/news/statement-on-stop-killing-games/ |access-date=2025-07-09 |website=Videogames Europe}}</ref> on their website and published a 5-page position paper<ref>{{Cite web |title=Why providing continued support do not work for all games |url=https://www.videogameseurope.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/VGE-Position-Discontinuation-of-Support-to-Online-Games-04072025.pdf |access-date=2025-07-09 |website=Videogames Europe}}</ref> against the campaign where it outline perceived problems seen by the industry even though some of those perceived problems were already clarified by the lengthy FAQ section provided by the campaign.

Video Games Europe response is not only unsurprising but also expected since their board is composed by major publishers like EA, Ubisoft, Nintendo, Microsoft and Sony and they see no problem in how the industry works today.

On July 10, 2025 [[Ubisoft#Comments by executives on ownership|Ubisoft]]'s CEO, Yves Guillemot commented on the campaign during an investor meeting:<blockquote>''We provide a service, but nothing is written in stone, and at some point the service may be discontinued. Nothing is eternal. And we do our best to make sure things go well for our players and buyers, because obviously support for old games cannot last forever.”'' </blockquote>

On July 21, 2025, Ross Scott published a video<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Jul 2025 |title=The industry filed false claims against the "Stop Killing Games" initiative |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQN_ZA5WRpo |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=Youtube}}</ref> showcasing serious accusation against the Stop Destroying Videogames european initiative from an anonymous source. The accusations were relayed by the European Commission to Ross Scott and are:<br>
<blockquote>
1. False "No Funding" Declaration<br>
2. Systematic Concealment of Major Contribution
</blockquote>
In the video Ross demonstrates how the accusations have no ground to stand on and the process of communication that happened with the European Commission to verify the correctness of the campaign before it even began in July 2024.
The European Commission hasn't moved against or in favor of the accused yet. The document with the accusations can be found here.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Jul 2025 |title=TRANSPARENCY COMPLAINT - EUROPEAN CITIZENS' INITIATIVE |url=https://mega.nz/file/W3YTHCqQ#i-D2f_fgILqBILJiavLwX-eh3pUPGnYeaQfdadiFH20 |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=MEGA}}</ref>

==Video game preservation==
{{Main|Video game preservation}}
There are also efforts to restore older games, or to allow the community of games to have access to the source code of games themselves. In 2025 there were several developments by major publishers, such as [[Valve]] and [[EA]]. Valve released the source code of Team Fortress 2 in February.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Feb 2025 |title=The TF2 SDK has arrived! |url=https://www.teamfortress.com/post.php?id=238809 |access-date=10 Mar 2025 |website=Team Fortress}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=21 Feb 2025 |title=Valve Releases Team Fortress 2 Source Code, Now open to Modders |url=https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250310111654/https://bitskins.com/blog/valve-releases-team-fortress-2-source-code-now-open-to-modders/ |archive-date=10 Mar 2025 |access-date=10 Mar 2025 |website=BitSkins}}</ref> EA released the source code of [[EA releases source code of classic command and conquer titles|classic command and conquer titles]], also in February 2025.

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Consumer activism]]
[[Category:Pro-consumer articles]]

Ubisoft

2025-08-16T15:13:24Z

2001:1C04:3407:1000:2514:9289:F734:4622: Incomplete references (?) removed.

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Ubisoft
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1986
| Industry = Video Games
| Official Website = https://ubisoft.com/
| Logo = Ubisoft.png
}}

'''[[Wikipedia:Ubisoft|Ubisoft Entertainment SA]]''' is a multinational video-game company, known for developing and publishing popular franchises such as ''Assassin's Creed'', ''Far Cry'', and ''Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six''. The company has positioned itself as a leader in the video game industry, referring to some of its releases as "AAAA" games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Olivia |date=10 Sep 2020 |title=Ubisoft Insists On Calling Beyond Good And Evil 2, Skull & Bones ‘AAAA’ Games |url=https://screenrant.com/ubisoft-beyond-good-evil-skull-bones-aaaa-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Screen Rant}}</ref>

==Relevant incidents==

===''The Crew'' shutdown===
One of the most significant consumer protection issues surrounding Ubisoft in recent years relates to the 2014 game ''The Crew''. In late 2023, Ubisoft announced the shutdown of the online services for ''The Crew'', making the game unplayable entirely, even the single-player content.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lyles |first=Taylor |date=14 Dec 2023 |title=The Crew Delisted From All Digital Storefronts, Servers Shut Down Early 2024 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-crew-delisted-from-all-digital-storefronts-servers-shut-down-early-2024 |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref> The decision to decommission the game's servers was controversial, as Ubisoft retroactively altered the terms of sale. Players who had purchased the game, which was initially marketed with certain single-player functionality, found that they could no longer access said single-player features after the servers were shut down.

The decommissioning of ''The Crew'' also sparked a wider debate on the viability of "games-as-a-service" models, which Ubisoft has heavily invested in.<ref>[https://www.stopkillinggames.com/ Stop Killing Games]</ref> These models often require ongoing internet connectivity to function and rely on servers run by the company. At any time, the company can decide to shut down the servers and the games will no longer be playable, as seen with ''The Crew''.

Weeks after the shutdown of The Crew, Ubisoft also revoked the licenses for players off the Ubisoft Connect PC app, so the game was no longer downloadable.

''The Crew'' caused the movement [[Stop Killing Games]], a campaign against issues like the shutdown of ''The Crew.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 July 2025 |title=How The Crew Ignited the Stop Killing Games Movement |url=https://www.dlcompare.com/gaming-news/the-crew-game-that-sparked-the-stop-killing-game-movement-56928 |access-date=13 August 2025 |website=dlcompare.com}}</ref>

===''Star Wars Outlaws'' forced update===
''Star Wars Outlaws'' was released in August 2024, with two editions that allowed players to have early access to the game for $110 and $130, respectively, approximately twice the cost of the game on release day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reed |first=Chris |date=6 Aug 2024 |title=Star Wars Outlaws: Here’s What Comes in Each Edition |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/star-wars-outlaws-release-date-special-editions |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref> Ubisoft then pushed an update just before the full release that caused players on PlayStation 5 who had paid extra for the game as early access to have their save file deleted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knight |first=Kyle |date=28 Aug 2024 |title=Star Wars Outlaws Players Forced to Delete Saved Data on PS5 |url=https://gamerant.com/star-wars-outlaws-bug-delete-save-data-ps5/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Game Rant}}</ref> Although the update was intended to fix a game-breaking bug, upon full release many bugs remained.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gherzo |first=Alex |date=27 Aug 2024 |title=Star Wars Outlaws Still Looks Buggy the Week of Its Release |url=https://www.geeksandgamers.com/star-wars-outlaws-still-looks-buggy-the-week-of-its-release/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Geeks and Gamers}}</ref> This behavior also highlights an ongoing pattern in which Ubisoft releases an incomplete game, expects players to buy the game and act as the testers, and then patches the game later.

===Inclusion of lawsuit-waiving clauses in game-giveaway license===
In December of 2014, Ubisoft was giving away free licenses for a game, but with a catch: the terms<ref>{{Cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=23 Dec 2014 |title=Assassin's Creed Unity Free Game Offer Waives Lawsuits |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/assassin-s-creed-unity-free-game-offer-waives-laws/1100-6424381/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Gamespot}}</ref> for the clickwrap agreement in obtaining the game for free contained a clause stating that the user could not sue Ubisoft in relation to ''Assassin's Creed Unity'' or its season pass:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Futter |first=Mike |date=18 Dec 2014 |title=Your Assassin’s Creed Unity Season Pass Free Game Comes With A Legal Catch |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/12/18/your-assassin-s-creed-unity-season-pass-free-game-comes-with-a-legal-catch.aspx |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Game Informer}}</ref><blockquote>''You hereby irrevocably and unconditionally RELEASE, WAIVE, AND FOREVER DISCHARGE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE Ubisoft Entertainment S.A., and each of its past, present and future divisions, parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors, successors and assigns, together with all of their respective past, present and future employees, officers, shareholders, directors and agents, and those who give recommendations, directions, or instructions or engage in risk evaluation or loss control activities regarding the Campaign (all for the purposes herein referred to as “Released Parties”) FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY TO YOU, your assigns, heirs, and next of kin FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, CHARGES, LAWSUITS, DEBTS, DEFENSES, ACTIONS OR CAUSES OF ACTION, OBLIGATIONS, DAMAGES, LOSS OF SERVICE, COMPENSATION, PAIN AND SUFFERING, ATTORNEYS’ FEES, AND COST AND EXPENSES OF SUIT, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED OR UNSUSPECTED, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE PURCHASE, ACQUISITION, RENTAL, POSSESSION AND/OR USAGE, AND/OR THE INTENT TO PURCHASE, ACQUIRE, RENT, POSSESS AND/OR USE, THE ASSASSIN’S CREED UNITY VIDEO GAME AND/OR THE ASSASSIN’S CREED UNITY SEASON PASS ON ANY AND ALL PLATFORMS, AND/OR RELATED TO THE CAMPAIGN, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASED PARTIES OR OTHERWISE.''</blockquote>

===Comments by executives on ownership===
Ubisoft's CEO, Yves Guillemot, has repeatedly stated that "[[Games as a service|games as a service]]" is the future of the gaming industry,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schreier |first=Jason |date=30 May 2017 |title=Top Video Game Companies Won't Stop Talking About 'Games As A Service' |url=https://kotaku.com/top-video-game-companies-wont-stop-talking-about-games-1795663927 |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Kotaku}}</ref> and Ubisoft's director of subscriptions, Philippe Tremblay, said that players should get used to not owning their games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=16 Jan 2024 |title=Ubisoft Exec Says Gamers Need to Get 'Comfortable' Not Owning Their Games for Subscriptions to Take Off |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/ubisoft-exec-says-gamers-need-to-get-comfortable-not-owning-their-games-for-subscriptions-to-take-off |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref> These comments have been met with criticism, particularly when juxtaposed with decisions like the shutdown of ''The Crew'' and the introduction of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) into Ubisoft’s business model.

On January 15, 2024, Ubisoft's director of subscriptions, Philippe Tremblay, was interviewed by [http://www.gamesindustry.biz gamesindustry.biz]. During this interview, Tremblay made the following comment on ownership:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dring |first=Christopher |date=15 Jan 2024 |title=The new Ubisoft+ and getting gamers comfortable with not owning their games |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-new-ubisoft-and-getting-gamers-comfortable-with-not-owning-their-games |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Games Industry}}</ref><blockquote>"One of the things we saw is that gamers are used to, a little bit like DVD, having and owning their games. That's the consumer shift that needs to happen. They got comfortable not owning their CD collection or DVD collection. That's a transformation that's been a bit slower to happen [in games]. As gamers grow comfortable in that aspect… you don't lose your progress. If you resume your game at another time, your progress file is still there. That's not been deleted. You don't lose what you've built in the game or your engagement with the game. So it's about feeling comfortable with not owning your game."</blockquote>
On July 10, 2025, during the Q&A portion of Ubisoft’s 2025 General Meeting<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tran |first=Edmond |date=19 Jul 2025 |title=Ubisoft CEO Addresses Stop Killing Games Movement Concerns |url=https://thisweekinvideogames.com/news/ubisoft-ceo-addresses-stop-killing-games-movement-concerns/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=This Week in Videogames}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 Jul 2025 |title=Investor center: General Meetings |url=https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/company/about-us/investors#generalMeetings |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=Ubisoft}}</ref> at around 1:22:30<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 Jul 2025 |title=General Meeting 2025 |url=https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/zzxygofu/ |access-date=2025-07-20}}</ref>, Guillemot has addressed shareholder concerns regarding the [[Stop Killing Games]] movement, unfortunately repeating the same misinformation as the lobby group [[Stop Killing Games#Industry push back|Video Game Europe]] regarding the wrong assumption that the initiative is asking for servers to be kept alive forever<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 Jul 2024 |title=Europeans can save gaming! |url=https://youtu.be/mkMe9MxxZiI?t=150 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=Youtube: Accursed Farms}}</ref>:<blockquote>“We operate in a market, and whenever we release a game, we provide a lot of support for that game. We also provide a lot of services to make sure that the game is accessible and remains playable 24/7.”

“So we provide information regarding the game and how long the game can be played. And players and buyers are forewarned that eventually the game may be discontinued.”

“But this kind of issue is not specific to Ubisoft. All videogame publishers are faced with that issue. We provide a service, but nothing is written in stone, and at some point the service may be discontinued. Nothing is eternal. And we do our best to make sure things go well for our players and buyers, because obviously support for old games cannot last forever.”</blockquote>

===California class action lawsuit===
Polygon reported on November 11, 2024<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=11 Nov 2024 |title=Ubisoft sued for shutting down The Crew |url=https://www.polygon.com/gaming/476979/ubisoft-the-crew-shut-down-lawsuit-class-action |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2025 |website=Polygon}}</ref> about two owners of the crew filing a class action lawsuit against Ubisoft on November 04, 2024 alleging violations of unfair competition, false advertising, fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of implied warranty, according to California Law.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 Apr 2024 |title=Crew Lawsuit Via Polygon |url=https://it.scribd.com/document/790913960/Crew-Lawsuit-via-Polygon |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2025 |website=Scribd}}</ref><blockquote>"Imagine you buy a pinball machine, and years later, you enter your den to go play it, only to discover that all the paddles are missing, the pinball and bumpers are gone, and the monitor that proudly displayed your unassailable high score is removed."</blockquote>Ubisoft responded to this lawsuit with a motion to dismiss on February 05, 2025, also reported by Polygon,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=9 Apr 2025 |title=Ubisoft holds firm in The Crew lawsuit: You don’t own your video games |url=https://www.polygon.com/gaming/555469/ubisoft-holds-firm-in-the-crew-lawsuit-you-dont-own-your-video-games |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2025 |website=Polygon}}</ref> arguing that plaintiffs don’t have a case reiterating that fact that you don't own the video game you bought:<blockquote>"The [essence] of the plaintiffs’ complaint is that Ubisoft allegedly misled purchasers of its video game The Crew into believing they were purchasing unfettered ownership rights in the game, rather than a limited license to access the game. But the reality is that consumers received the benefit of their bargain and were explicitly notified, at the time of purchase, that they were purchasing a license."<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Feb 2025 |title=The Crew lawsuit, Ubisoft response -- via Polygon |url=https://it.scribd.com/document/848030901/The-Crew-lawsuit-Ubisoft-response-via-Polygon |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2025 |website=Scribd}}</ref></blockquote>On March 18, 2025 plaintiffs amended the complaint with pictures of the physical copy arguing that the in-box Activation Code for The Crew had an expiration date of 2099. Additionally, the game’s in-game currency could be considered a form of gift certificate. In California, a gift certificate is not allowed to expire.

===GDPR Complaint===
On April 24 2025, noyb (a European non-profit organization for digital rights) filed a [[GDPR]] complaint to the Austrian data protection authority (DSB) against Ubisoft for forcing its customers to connect to the internet every time a single player game is launched, thereby collecting data on gaming behaviour. This collection of data is alleged to be an infringement of Article 6(1) of the GDPR.

Noyb's official statement:<ref name="gdpr-complaint">Like to play alone? Ubisoft is still watching you! (2025, April 28). noyb.eu. https://noyb.eu/en/play-alone-ubisoft-still-watching-you</ref>
<blockquote>Complaint filed in Austria. noyb has therefore filed a GDPR complaint with the Austrian data protection authority (DSB). We request the DSB to declare that Ubisoft infringed Article 6(1) GDPR with its processing of personal data without a valid legal basis. In addition, we request that Ubisoft deletes all personal information by the complainant that has been processed without a valid legal basis – and that the company ceases further unlawful processing. Last but not least, we suggest that the data protection authority impose an administrative fine. Based on Ubisoft’s turnover of more than € 2 billion, the data protection authority could issue a fine of up to € 92 million.(“Like to Play Alone? Ubisoft Is Still Watching You!,” 2025)</blockquote>

According to noyb there is no valid and legal reason to collect such data "Under Article 6(1) GDPR, there seems to be no valid legal basis to randomly collect such user data" (“Like to Play Alone? Ubisoft Is Still Watching You!,” 2025).<ref name="gdpr-complaint" />

===Switch to subscription model for the game Rocksmith===
{{Main|Rocksmith}}
Rocksmith is a Ubisoft video game that got delisted from every storefront to switch to Rocksmith+, a subscription based game.

===Demand to destroy games in your possession===
Tech4Gamers recently reported on July 5, 2025<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rehman |first=Obaid Ur |date=2025-07-05 |title="Ubisoft Wants Gamers To Destroy All Copies of A Game Once It Goes Offline" |url=https://tech4gamers.com/ubisoft-eula-destroy-all-copies-game-goes-offline/ |url-status=live |work=Tech4Gamers}}</ref> the Ubisoft EULA has been updated, which states that upon "termination of Your UBISOFT Account" or "UBISOFT’s decision to discontinue offering and/or supporting the Product" the owner of a game must not only uninstall the product, but you must also "destroy all copies of the Product in Your possession". As gameGPU states; "even physical media"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Games |first=Maximum |date=2025-07-05 |title=Ubisoft requires all copies of the game to be destroyed upon EULA termination |url=https://en.gamegpu.com/game/Ubisoft-requires-all-copies-of-games-to-be-deleted-upon-EULA-termination |url-status=live |work=GameGPU}}</ref>.

UBISOFT EULA<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ubisoft EULA |url=https://www.ubisoft.com/legal/documents/eula/en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250706174816/https://www.ubisoft.com/legal/documents/eula/en-US |archive-date=2025-07-06 |website=Ubisoft}}</ref>:<blockquote>8. TERMINATION.

The EULA is effective from the earlier of the date You purchase, download or use the Product, until terminated according to its terms. You and UBISOFT (or its licensor) may terminate this EULA, at any time, for any reason. Termination by UBISOFT will be effective upon (a) notice to You or (b) termination of Your UBISOFT Account (if any) or (c) at the time of UBISOFT’s decision to discontinue offering and/or supporting the Product. This EULA will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with any of the terms and conditions of this EULA. Upon termination for any reason, You must immediately uninstall the Product and destroy all copies of the Product in Your possession.</blockquote>

===The Crew shutdown===
Ubisoft officially delisted ''The Crew'' from all digital storefronts on '''December 14, 2023''', citing [https://www.ubisoft.com/en-ca/game/the-crew/the-crew-2/news-updates/3u0la29yUBGBzYlwKp5QMZ/an-update-on-the-crew “upcoming server infrastructure and licensing constraints.”] They announced that the game, released in 2014 and requiring constant online connectivity even for solo play, would become unplayable after its servers shut down on '''March 31, 2024'''. Following that shutdown, Ubisoft went a step further: players who owned the game on Ubisoft Connect found that their license had been revoked. The game was moved to an “Inactive Games” library section, became impossible to redownload, and even if launched from local files, only operated in a limited “demo” mode.

==References==
<references />
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Ubisoft

2025-08-16T15:08:16Z

2001:1C04:3407:1000:2514:9289:F734:4622: Typo fixed.

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Ubisoft
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1986
| Industry = Video Games
| Official Website = https://ubisoft.com/
| Logo = Ubisoft.png
}}

'''[[Wikipedia:Ubisoft|Ubisoft Entertainment SA]]''' is a multinational video-game company, known for developing and publishing popular franchises such as ''Assassin's Creed'', ''Far Cry'', and ''Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six''. The company has positioned itself as a leader in the video game industry, referring to some of its releases as "AAAA" games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Olivia |date=10 Sep 2020 |title=Ubisoft Insists On Calling Beyond Good And Evil 2, Skull & Bones ‘AAAA’ Games |url=https://screenrant.com/ubisoft-beyond-good-evil-skull-bones-aaaa-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Screen Rant}}</ref>

==Relevant incidents==

===''The Crew'' shutdown===
One of the most significant consumer protection issues surrounding Ubisoft in recent years relates to the 2014 game ''The Crew''. In late 2023, Ubisoft announced the shutdown of the online services for ''The Crew'', making the game unplayable entirely, even the single-player content.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lyles |first=Taylor |date=14 Dec 2023 |title=The Crew Delisted From All Digital Storefronts, Servers Shut Down Early 2024 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-crew-delisted-from-all-digital-storefronts-servers-shut-down-early-2024 |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref> The decision to decommission the game's servers was controversial, as Ubisoft retroactively altered the terms of sale. Players who had purchased the game, which was initially marketed with certain single-player functionality, found that they could no longer access said single-player features after the servers were shut down.

The decommissioning of ''The Crew'' also sparked a wider debate on the viability of "games-as-a-service" models, which Ubisoft has heavily invested in.<ref>[https://www.stopkillinggames.com/ Stop Killing Games]</ref> These models often require ongoing internet connectivity to function and rely on servers run by the company. At any time, the company can decide to shut down the servers and the games will no longer be playable, as seen with ''The Crew''.

Weeks after the shutdown of The Crew, Ubisoft also revoked the licenses for players off the Ubisoft Connect PC app, so the game was no longer downloadable.

''The Crew'' caused the movement [[Stop Killing Games]], a campaign against issues like the shutdown of ''The Crew.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=3 July 2025 |title=How The Crew Ignited the Stop Killing Games Movement |url=https://www.dlcompare.com/gaming-news/the-crew-game-that-sparked-the-stop-killing-game-movement-56928 |access-date=13 August 2025 |website=dlcompare.com}}</ref>

===''Star Wars Outlaws'' forced update===
''Star Wars Outlaws'' was released in August 2024, with two editions that allowed players to have early access to the game for $110 and $130, respectively, approximately twice the cost of the game on release day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reed |first=Chris |date=6 Aug 2024 |title=Star Wars Outlaws: Here’s What Comes in Each Edition |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/star-wars-outlaws-release-date-special-editions |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref> Ubisoft then pushed an update just before the full release that caused players on PlayStation 5 who had paid extra for the game as early access to have their save file deleted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knight |first=Kyle |date=28 Aug 2024 |title=Star Wars Outlaws Players Forced to Delete Saved Data on PS5 |url=https://gamerant.com/star-wars-outlaws-bug-delete-save-data-ps5/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Game Rant}}</ref> Although the update was intended to fix a game-breaking bug, upon full release many bugs remained.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gherzo |first=Alex |date=27 Aug 2024 |title=Star Wars Outlaws Still Looks Buggy the Week of Its Release |url=https://www.geeksandgamers.com/star-wars-outlaws-still-looks-buggy-the-week-of-its-release/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Geeks and Gamers}}</ref> This behavior also highlights an ongoing pattern in which Ubisoft releases an incomplete game, expects players to buy the game and act as the testers, and then patches the game later.

===Inclusion of lawsuit-waiving clauses in game-giveaway license===
In December of 2014, Ubisoft was giving away free licenses for a game, but with a catch: the terms<ref>{{Cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=23 Dec 2014 |title=Assassin's Creed Unity Free Game Offer Waives Lawsuits |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/assassin-s-creed-unity-free-game-offer-waives-laws/1100-6424381/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Gamespot}}</ref> for the clickwrap agreement in obtaining the game for free contained a clause stating that the user could not sue Ubisoft in relation to ''Assassin's Creed Unity'' or its season pass:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Futter |first=Mike |date=18 Dec 2014 |title=Your Assassin’s Creed Unity Season Pass Free Game Comes With A Legal Catch |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/12/18/your-assassin-s-creed-unity-season-pass-free-game-comes-with-a-legal-catch.aspx |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Game Informer}}</ref><blockquote>''You hereby irrevocably and unconditionally RELEASE, WAIVE, AND FOREVER DISCHARGE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE Ubisoft Entertainment S.A., and each of its past, present and future divisions, parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors, successors and assigns, together with all of their respective past, present and future employees, officers, shareholders, directors and agents, and those who give recommendations, directions, or instructions or engage in risk evaluation or loss control activities regarding the Campaign (all for the purposes herein referred to as “Released Parties”) FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY TO YOU, your assigns, heirs, and next of kin FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, CHARGES, LAWSUITS, DEBTS, DEFENSES, ACTIONS OR CAUSES OF ACTION, OBLIGATIONS, DAMAGES, LOSS OF SERVICE, COMPENSATION, PAIN AND SUFFERING, ATTORNEYS’ FEES, AND COST AND EXPENSES OF SUIT, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED OR UNSUSPECTED, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE PURCHASE, ACQUISITION, RENTAL, POSSESSION AND/OR USAGE, AND/OR THE INTENT TO PURCHASE, ACQUIRE, RENT, POSSESS AND/OR USE, THE ASSASSIN’S CREED UNITY VIDEO GAME AND/OR THE ASSASSIN’S CREED UNITY SEASON PASS ON ANY AND ALL PLATFORMS, AND/OR RELATED TO THE CAMPAIGN, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASED PARTIES OR OTHERWISE.''</blockquote>

===Comments by executives on ownership===
Ubisoft's CEO, Yves Guillemot, has repeatedly stated that "[[Games as a service|games as a service]]" is the future of the gaming industry,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schreier |first=Jason |date=30 May 2017 |title=Top Video Game Companies Won't Stop Talking About 'Games As A Service' |url=https://kotaku.com/top-video-game-companies-wont-stop-talking-about-games-1795663927 |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Kotaku}}</ref> and Ubisoft's director of subscriptions, Philippe Tremblay, said that players should get used to not owning their games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=16 Jan 2024 |title=Ubisoft Exec Says Gamers Need to Get 'Comfortable' Not Owning Their Games for Subscriptions to Take Off |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/ubisoft-exec-says-gamers-need-to-get-comfortable-not-owning-their-games-for-subscriptions-to-take-off |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref> These comments have been met with criticism, particularly when juxtaposed with decisions like the shutdown of ''The Crew'' and the introduction of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) into Ubisoft’s business model.

On January 15, 2024, Ubisoft's director of subscriptions, Philippe Tremblay, was interviewed by [http://www.gamesindustry.biz gamesindustry.biz]. During this interview, Tremblay made the following comment on ownership:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dring |first=Christopher |date=15 Jan 2024 |title=The new Ubisoft+ and getting gamers comfortable with not owning their games |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-new-ubisoft-and-getting-gamers-comfortable-with-not-owning-their-games |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Games Industry}}</ref><blockquote>"One of the things we saw is that gamers are used to, a little bit like DVD, having and owning their games. That's the consumer shift that needs to happen. They got comfortable not owning their CD collection or DVD collection. That's a transformation that's been a bit slower to happen [in games]. As gamers grow comfortable in that aspect… you don't lose your progress. If you resume your game at another time, your progress file is still there. That's not been deleted. You don't lose what you've built in the game or your engagement with the game. So it's about feeling comfortable with not owning your game."</blockquote>
On July 10, 2025, during the Q&A portion of Ubisoft’s 2025 General Meeting<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tran |first=Edmond |date=19 Jul 2025 |title=Ubisoft CEO Addresses Stop Killing Games Movement Concerns |url=https://thisweekinvideogames.com/news/ubisoft-ceo-addresses-stop-killing-games-movement-concerns/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-10 |website=This Week in Videogames}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=10 Jul 2025 |title=Investor center: General Meetings |url=https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/company/about-us/investors#generalMeetings |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=Ubisoft}}</ref> at around 1:22:30<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 Jul 2025 |title=General Meeting 2025 |url=https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/zzxygofu/ |access-date=2025-07-20}}</ref>, Guillemot has addressed shareholder concerns regarding the [[Stop Killing Games]] movement, unfortunately repeating the same misinformation as the lobby group [[Stop Killing Games#Industry push back|Video Game Europe]] regarding the wrong assumption that the initiative is asking for servers to be kept alive forever<ref>{{Cite web |date=31 Jul 2024 |title=Europeans can save gaming! |url=https://youtu.be/mkMe9MxxZiI?t=150 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-07-20 |website=Youtube: Accursed Farms}}</ref>:<blockquote>“We operate in a market, and whenever we release a game, we provide a lot of support for that game. We also provide a lot of services to make sure that the game is accessible and remains playable 24/7.”

“So we provide information regarding the game and how long the game can be played. And players and buyers are forewarned that eventually the game may be discontinued.”

“But this kind of issue is not specific to Ubisoft. All videogame publishers are faced with that issue. We provide a service, but nothing is written in stone, and at some point the service may be discontinued. Nothing is eternal. And we do our best to make sure things go well for our players and buyers, because obviously support for old games cannot last forever.”</blockquote>

===California class action lawsuit===
Polygon reported on November 11, 2024<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=11 Nov 2024 |title=Ubisoft sued for shutting down The Crew |url=https://www.polygon.com/gaming/476979/ubisoft-the-crew-shut-down-lawsuit-class-action |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2025 |website=Polygon}}</ref> about two owners of the crew filing a class action lawsuit against Ubisoft on November 04, 2024 alleging violations of unfair competition, false advertising, fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of implied warranty, according to California Law.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 Apr 2024 |title=Crew Lawsuit Via Polygon |url=https://it.scribd.com/document/790913960/Crew-Lawsuit-via-Polygon |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2025 |website=Scribd}}</ref><blockquote>"Imagine you buy a pinball machine, and years later, you enter your den to go play it, only to discover that all the paddles are missing, the pinball and bumpers are gone, and the monitor that proudly displayed your unassailable high score is removed."</blockquote>Ubisoft responded to this lawsuit with a motion to dismiss on February 05, 2025, also reported by Polygon,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=9 Apr 2025 |title=Ubisoft holds firm in The Crew lawsuit: You don’t own your video games |url=https://www.polygon.com/gaming/555469/ubisoft-holds-firm-in-the-crew-lawsuit-you-dont-own-your-video-games |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2025 |website=Polygon}}</ref> arguing that plaintiffs don’t have a case reiterating that fact that you don't own the video game you bought:<blockquote>"The [essence] of the plaintiffs’ complaint is that Ubisoft allegedly misled purchasers of its video game The Crew into believing they were purchasing unfettered ownership rights in the game, rather than a limited license to access the game. But the reality is that consumers received the benefit of their bargain and were explicitly notified, at the time of purchase, that they were purchasing a license."<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Feb 2025 |title=The Crew lawsuit, Ubisoft response -- via Polygon |url=https://it.scribd.com/document/848030901/The-Crew-lawsuit-Ubisoft-response-via-Polygon |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2025 |website=Scribd}}</ref></blockquote>On March 18, 2025 plaintiffs amended the complaint with pictures of the physical copy arguing that the in-box Activation Code for The Crew had an expiration date of 2099. Additionally, the game’s in-game currency could be considered a form of gift certificate. In California, a gift certificate is not allowed to expire.

===GDPR Complaint===
On April 24 2025, noyb (a European non-profit organization for digital rights) filed a [[GDPR]] complaint to the Austrian data protection authority (DSB) against Ubisoft for forcing its customers to connect to the internet every time a single player game is launched, thereby collecting data on gaming behaviour. This collection of data is alleged to be an infringement of Article 6(1) of the GDPR.

Noyb's official statement:<ref name="gdpr-complaint">Like to play alone? Ubisoft is still watching you! (2025, April 28). noyb.eu. https://noyb.eu/en/play-alone-ubisoft-still-watching-you</ref>
<blockquote>Complaint filed in Austria. noyb has therefore filed a GDPR complaint with the Austrian data protection authority (DSB). We request the DSB to declare that Ubisoft infringed Article 6(1) GDPR with its processing of personal data without a valid legal basis. In addition, we request that Ubisoft deletes all personal information by the complainant that has been processed without a valid legal basis – and that the company ceases further unlawful processing. Last but not least, we suggest that the data protection authority impose an administrative fine. Based on Ubisoft’s turnover of more than € 2 billion, the data protection authority could issue a fine of up to € 92 million.(“Like to Play Alone? Ubisoft Is Still Watching You!,” 2025)</blockquote>

According to noyb there is no valid and legal reason to collect such data "Under Article 6(1) GDPR, there seems to be no valid legal basis to randomly collect such user data" (“Like to Play Alone? Ubisoft Is Still Watching You!,” 2025).<ref name="gdpr-complaint" />

===Switch to subscription model for the game Rocksmith===
{{Main|Rocksmith}}
Rocksmith is a Ubisoft video game that got delisted from every storefront to switch to Rocksmith+, a subscription based game.

===Demand to destroy games in your possession===
Tech4Gamers recently reported on July 5, 2025<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rehman |first=Obaid Ur |date=2025-07-05 |title="Ubisoft Wants Gamers To Destroy All Copies of A Game Once It Goes Offline" |url=https://tech4gamers.com/ubisoft-eula-destroy-all-copies-game-goes-offline/ |url-status=live |work=Tech4Gamers}}</ref> the Ubisoft EULA has been updated, which states that upon "termination of Your UBISOFT Account" or "UBISOFT’s decision to discontinue offering and/or supporting the Product" the owner of a game must not only uninstall the product, but you must also "destroy all copies of the Product in Your possession". As gameGPU states; "even physical media"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Games |first=Maximum |date=2025-07-05 |title=Ubisoft requires all copies of the game to be destroyed upon EULA termination |url=https://en.gamegpu.com/game/Ubisoft-requires-all-copies-of-games-to-be-deleted-upon-EULA-termination |url-status=live |work=GameGPU}}</ref>.

UBISOFT EULA<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ubisoft EULA |url=https://www.ubisoft.com/legal/documents/eula/en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250706174816/https://www.ubisoft.com/legal/documents/eula/en-US |archive-date=2025-07-06 |website=Ubisoft}}</ref>:<blockquote>8. TERMINATION.

The EULA is effective from the earlier of the date You purchase, download or use the Product, until terminated according to its terms. You and UBISOFT (or its licensor) may terminate this EULA, at any time, for any reason. Termination by UBISOFT will be effective upon (a) notice to You or (b) termination of Your UBISOFT Account (if any) or (c) at the time of UBISOFT’s decision to discontinue offering and/or supporting the Product. This EULA will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with any of the terms and conditions of this EULA. Upon termination for any reason, You must immediately uninstall the Product and destroy all copies of the Product in Your possession.</blockquote>

===The Crew shutdown===
Ubisoft officially delisted ''The Crew'' from all digital storefronts on '''December 14, 2023''', citing [https://www.ubisoft.com/en-ca/game/the-crew/the-crew-2/news-updates/3u0la29yUBGBzYlwKp5QMZ/an-update-on-the-crew “upcoming server infrastructure and licensing constraints.”] They announced that the game, released in 2014 and requiring constant online connectivity even for solo play, would become unplayable after its servers shut down on '''March 31, 2024''' UbisoftWikipedia. Following that shutdown, Ubisoft went a step further: players who owned the game on Ubisoft Connect found that their license had been revoked. The game was moved to an “Inactive Games” library section, became impossible to redownload, and even if launched from local files, only operated in a limited “demo” mode PC GamerWikipedia.

==References==
<references />
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Games as a service

2025-08-16T15:02:54Z

2001:1C04:3407:1000:2514:9289:F734:4622: Typo fixed.

{{StubNotice}}

'''[[wikipedia:Games_as_a_service|Games as a service]]''' (also known as live-service games) is a business model designed to continuously monetize games after they are initially sold (or offered for free), typically through new updates, [[downloadable content]], and [[microtransaction]]s. A common practice in this model is allowing players to pre-purchase content with the promise that it will be released at a specified time, and will include all features advertised in the product's listing. Games as a service also typically has a premium currency, which players purchase with real-world currency to acquire in-game items.

==Issues==
Games as a service is a misleading term. They don't follow the rules of any other service model. Customers often aren't provided with information what services they're entitled to and the time period in which those services will be active. While GaaS incentivizes developers to keep producing content for their game, the game often risks becoming completely unplayable once support is discontinued.<ref>{{cite web|author=Accursed Farms|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w70Xc9CStoE|title=The largest campaign ever to stop publishers destroying games|website=YouTube|access-date=2025-01-24}}</ref> There is very little legal recourse for the user to recoup the cost of purchasing the game or its in-game content. The [[End-user license agreement|End-User License Agreement (EULA)]] typically disclaims the publisher's obligation to refund or compensate users, as it clarifies that they are purchasing a license rather than actually owning the software.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.kelleherbros.com/blog/2024/3/27/digital-ownership-2-the-eula-era|title=Precarious Digital Ownership: The EULA Era|website=kelleherbros.com|access-date=2025-01-28}}</ref>

Additionally in some scenarios, content offered and even sold on GaaS may also be discontinued or revoked from consumers while the service continues.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Savage |first=Phil |date=Aug 23, 2020 |title=Here's everything being removed from Destiny 2 at the end of this season—it's a lot |url=https://www.pcgamer.com/heres-everything-being-removed-from-destiny-2-at-the-end-of-this-seasonits-a-lot/ |access-date=Mar 31, 2025 |work=PC Gamer}}</ref>

==Examples==

===Ubisoft===
{{Main|Ubisoft}}
XDefiant, developed by Ubisoft, is an example of a game as a service. On December 3rd, 2024, the game announced the shutdown of its servers on June 3rd, 2025.<ref name=":0">[https://archive.is/ueESQ "'XDEFIANT IS SUNSETTING' Tweet"] - archive.is - archived 2025-01-28</ref> 49 days before the shutdown announcement, executive producer of XDefiant, Mark Rubin<ref>[https://archive.is/nEche "Mark Rubin Profile"] - archive.is - archived 2025-01-28</ref> posted online that the game had no plans of shutting down after season 4, while the game was still in season 2, and they had recently discussed their plans internally for the second year of content.<ref>[https://archive.is/XmekP "Mark Rubin claims NO plans to shut down after season 4"] - archive.is - archived 2025-01-28</ref> The shutdown post announced that the last 30 days of purchases would be fully refunded.<ref name=":0" />

The shutdown of ''The Crew'' is one of the central issues of the [[Stop Killing Games]] campaign. Despite the game containing some code for an offline mode<ref>[https://steamcommunity.com/app/241560/discussions/0/3803901559414708777/ Offline Mode is in the game] steamcommunity.com - accessed 2025-02-06</ref> from the start, it was not made accessible to the user due to the game's [[Digital rights management|digital-rights-management]] (DRM),<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qKNY64-QSc The Crew Offline Mode - Setting The Record Straight] youtube.com - accessed 2025-01-28 </ref> leaving the game in a completely unplayable state.

===EA===
{{Main|Electronic Arts}}
In recent years, Electronic Arts (often shortened to '''EA''') has garnered an infamous reputation for being a company involved in these sorts of practices, and has received criticism for over-reliance on micro-transactions and DLC for generating revenue.

On July 3, 2025, EA announced that [[Anthem]], a game developed by BioWare and published by EA, will have its servers shutdown on January 12, 2026.<ref name=":022">{{Cite web |date=2025-07-03 |title=Anthem Game Update |url=https://www.ea.com/games/anthem/news/anthem-game-update |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250704091220/https://www.ea.com/games/anthem/news/anthem-game-update |archive-date=2025-07-04 |access-date=2025-07-04 |website=EA}}</ref> As the title was developed exclusively under the live-service model, the closure of the servers will render the game unplayable.<ref name=":022" />

===Bungie===
{{Main|Bungie}}
The [[wikipedia:Destiny_(video_game_series)|Destiny]] franchise is Bungie's primary source of revenue, and its most recent title, Destiny 2, has had a significant amount of content offered in the game that has been forcibly vaulted by the company.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Glagowski |first=Peter |date=Jun 9, 2020 |title=Bungie To Remove Four Planets And All But Three Raids From Destiny 2 |url=https://www.thegamer.com/destiny-2-content-removal/ |access-date=Mar 31, 2025 |work=The Gamer}}</ref> Most notably, player-purchased content, including singleplayer content that shouldn't necessitate access to a server, has been removed from the game.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=The_Observer |date=Jun 18, 2021 |title=How could Bungie get away so easily with removing paid content from Destiny 2? |url=https://www.neogaf.com/threads/how-could-bungie-get-away-so-easily-with-removing-paid-content-from-destiny-2.1610927/ |access-date=Mar 31, 2025 |website=NeoGAF}}</ref> In mid 2022, Bungie did promise to stop removing content from the game,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gach |first=Ethan |date=Aug 23, 2022 |title=Destiny 2 Promises No More Axing Old Parts Of Game, Something That Players Hated |url=https://kotaku.com/destiny-2-lightfall-vaulting-sunset-forsaken-expansion-1849446608 |access-date=Mar 31, 2025 |work=Kotaku}}</ref> but not all legacy content has been reintroduced to the game.<ref>{{Cite news |last=GB Times Gaming Team |date=Mar 21, 2025 |title=Why is Bungie Removing Content from Destiny 2? The Content Vault Controversy Explained |url=https://gbtimes.com/gaming/why-is-bungie-removing-content/ |access-date=Mar 31, 2025 |work=GB Times}}</ref>

Bungie's previous GaaS title, Destiny, requires an always-online connection, and while the company has stated that they will maintain legacy support for both modern platforms,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bungie |title=Legacy Support for Destiny 1 Activities |url=https://help.bungie.net/hc/en-us/articles/360049201951-Legacy-Support-for-Destiny-1-Activities |access-date=Mar 31, 2025 |website=Bungie Help}}</ref> and legacy console editions,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bungie |title=Destiny 1 on Legacy Consoles |url=https://help.bungie.net/hc/en-us/articles/360049497531-Destiny-1-on-Legacy-Consoles |access-date=Mar 31, 2025 |website=Bungie Help}}</ref> it is plausible due to software degradation for the servers<ref>{{Cite news |last=MorphNeo |date=Jul 29, 2024 |title=Destiny 1 - Have they really SHUT IT DOWN? - Error: This version of Destiny is no longer available. |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfYzX58wMBs |access-date=Mar 31, 2025 |work=YouTube}}</ref> though, that the title could eventually become unplayable for consumers, especially as error frequency grows more common over time.<ref>{{Cite web |last=javagat10 |date=Jan 29, 2023 |title=Destiny Server issue on Xbox 360. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/DestinyTheGame/comments/10o1t6l/destiny_server_issue_on_xbox_360/ |access-date=Mar 31, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=ICE BREAKER (Timelost) |date=Jul 19, 2025 |title=Is destiny1 servers shut down permanently? |url=https://www.bungie.net/en/Forums/Post/264186352?page=0 |access-date=Mar 31, 2025 |website=Bungie Forums}}</ref>

Bungie has also announced ''{{Wplink|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marathon_(upcoming_video_game)|Marathon}}'',<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bungie |date=May 24, 2023 |title=Bungie Announces Marathon; Nathan Fillion To Return to Destiny 2 for The Final Shape Expansion |url=https://press.bungie.com/Bungie-Announces-Marathon-Nathan-Fillion-To-Return-to-Destiny-2-for-Th |access-date=Mar 31, 2025 |work=Bungie Press Room}}</ref> a reboot for their older franchise. This game has the plausibility to release as a live service title as well considering Bungie's recent history with their games.

==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Services]]
[[Category:Articles in need of additional work]]