Ubisoft recently updated its End User License Agreement (EULA) with a clause that might raise some eyebrows. The company is now instructing players to completely remove and destroy their games if online support or the offer for that title ends. Yes, you read that right, destroy your games.
The new wording in the EULA states: “You and Ubisoft may end this EULA at any time, for any reason. Termination by Ubisoft will be helpful upon notice to you or termination of your Ubisoft account, or at the time of Ubisoft’s decision to discontinue offering and/or supporting the Product.” This means Ubisoft can stop supporting or offering a game at any time, and when that happens, players are expected to comply.
Ubisoft’s policy calls for game deletion if support ends
The truly controversial part is the following clause: upon termination, “you must immediately uninstall the Product and destroy all copies of the Product in your possession.” In plain terms, if Ubisoft decides to pull the plug on a game’s online support or availability, you’re legally obligated to delete it entirely, digital or physical copy.
Over a million people have signed petitions demanding change, and plenty of influencers have voiced their support. Ubisoft’s new EULA clause feels like a step in the opposite direction, asking players to act as if their purchases become void once support ends.
Interestingly, Ubisoft isn’t alone here. Other companies, including Capcom, Sega, and even the makers of the Oblivion Remaster, have similar terms in their EULAs. That means this kind of requirement isn’t distinct to Ubisoft, but it still might make you think twice before buying a game that could vanish online one day.
