Ubisoft isn't the only studio that orders you to destroy your games once support ends

Ubisoft isn't the only studio that orders you to destroy your games once support ends (www.thegamer.com)
from throws_lemy@lemmy.nz to tech@programming.dev on 08 Jul 08:53
https://lemmy.nz/post/25263827

Ubisoft is being called out for a clause people have discovered in its licence agreement that orders owners of its games to destroy them should the studio choose to end service for those games. However, not only is the clause not new, as some have implied, but Ubisoft is far from the only studio that has it in its licence agreement.

Not only has that clause been in the Ubisoft EULA for a while, but the same sentiment can be found in EULAs you’ve agreed to before playing other games from an array of different studios. As highlighted by Amon274 on Reddit, the same clause can be found in the EULAs for various games on Steam, including Final Fantasy 7 Remake, Metaphor: ReFantazio, and Oblivion Remastered. A Phasmophobia dev also pointed to a similar clause in multiple agreements when the game was called out for the exact same thing two years ago.

Even your copies of Baldur’s Gate 3 have got to go if Larian Studios ever deems it so.

#tech

threaded - newest

nesc@lemmy.cafe on 08 Jul 09:55 next collapse

License agreements aren’t laws.

Lyra_Lycan@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 08 Jul 10:29 collapse

And even if they were, laws don’t have to be followed.

muhyb@programming.dev on 08 Jul 11:05 next collapse

At least we can buy Baldur’s Gate 3 on GOG.

jaggedrobotpubes@lemmy.world on 08 Jul 11:25 next collapse

ahem

lol.

sk1nnym1ke@piefed.social on 08 Jul 11:38 next collapse

Imagine you buy a car. After 10 years the manufacturer doesn't provide any spare parts and service checks.

Now you have to destroy your car.

Does it make sense?

Kissaki@programming.dev on 08 Jul 13:36 collapse

If you lease you car you have to give it back.

If you license your games for the duration of them being active, then it makes sense.

The biggest issue, miscommunication, and often illegal practice is calling it buying when it is only a limited subscription. IIRC Steam recently (finally had to) change the wording away from “buying”. Because it’s not buying if you don’t own the product afterwards.

FrederikNJS@lemmy.zip on 09 Jul 08:11 collapse

You are correct about the miscommunication bit.

But when you lease a car, do you get told when the lease ends?

When you buy a license for a game, do you get told when that license ends?

paraphrand@lemmy.world on 08 Jul 14:46 next collapse

onlinepersona@programming.dev on 09 Jul 06:06 collapse

The Stop Killing Games movement is great because it brought this kind of thing to light. I just hope it will succeed and not just fizzle out after gamers think getting 1M signatures is the end of the road. There is a long battle ahead.

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