Pirate Party MEP Patrick Breyer has asked the European Commission for an opinion on the decision by French computer game manufacturer Ubisoft to make the popular computer game "The Crew 1" unusable from April 2024. In Breyer's opinion, this measure could violate EU law. Meanwhile an initiative centr
  • kadu@lemmy.world
    0·
    7 months ago

    I think it’s totally fine for a company to shut down the servers for a game…

    …as long as they have a public tool to host your own server, free of any restrictions. They can also stop selling the game, but they can’t shut down the distribution for people who already paid for it, unless they straight up host it somewhere public and call it shareware from that point onwards.

    Any other alternative is crazy. Imagine you buy a music vinyl, then 5 years later some Sony executive knocks on your door and says “hey you know we are shutting down, so imma need that disc you’ve bought I’m going to shatter it right now thanks”

    • jmcs@discuss.tchncs.de
      0·
      7 months ago

      Don’t give Sony any ideas. But yes, studios should get two choices, either open up the server or fully refund every single cent at least to the players that played the game in the year before the shutdown was announced (just so they don’t say they don’t have to put a shitload of effort on a dead game).

      The same should apply to all digital sales.

  • ryathal@sh.itjust.works
    0·
    7 months ago

    I’d settle for the EU to start enforcement on use of the words buy and purchase. If a game requires online connection or only gives you a license, then they must use the words rent or license at point of sale.

    • Klear@lemmy.world
      0·
      7 months ago

      Don’t forget a clear information on when exactly this rent/license expires. Otherwise we’re just shuffling words around.