In a dramatic turn of events, Ubisoft’s The Crew 2 finds itself amidst a storm of discontent as players lash out against the game through a practice known as review bombing. The vehicular multiplayer racing game, released amidst high anticipation, has now become the target of frustration and ire for numerous players disenchanted with recent decisions made by the gaming giant.
The turmoil stems from Ubisoft’s announcement regarding the cessation of support for its predecessor, The Crew, first launched in 2014. The decision to shut down servers and delist the game from official stores by 31st March 2024, sent shockwaves through the gaming community. However, it was the subsequent execution of this plan that truly ignited the flames of discontent among loyal fans.
Players, already critical of The Crew’s online-only framework, were incensed by what they perceived as Ubisoft’s callous disregard for their investment. Accusations of theft were hurled, with players asserting they were not adequately forewarned of the game’s inevitable unavailability post-server shutdown. This perceived betrayal catalysed a surge in negative sentiment towards both the franchise and its custodians.
Now, as an act of defiance and protest, a faction of disgruntled players has chosen to express their dissatisfaction by ‘review bombing’ The Crew 2’s Steam page. This concerted effort has resulted in a stark downturn in the game’s recent review statistics, with its once lofty standing plummeting to a “Mostly Negative” rating, a disheartening development for a franchise with a historically solid reputation.
The core grievances voiced in these scathing reviews are primarily directed at Ubisoft’s handling of The Crew’s demise. Users lament the loss of access to a game they had paid for and question the longevity of The Crew 2 in light of recent events. Moreover, prospective buyers are cautioned against supporting the sequel, with alternative racing games touted as superior options amidst the fallout from Ubisoft’s decisions.
The repercussions of Ubisoft’s actions extend beyond mere consumer dissatisfaction. A palpable sense of betrayal pervades the gaming community, with many decrying the move as a violation of consumer rights. Calls for recompense in the form of refunds have grown louder, accompanied by ominous murmurs of potential legal action against the gaming juggernaut.
At the heart of this controversy lies a fundamental question of consumer rights in an increasingly digitised gaming landscape. While the inevitability of server shutdowns is begrudgingly accepted, the notion of developers wielding unchecked authority over purchased products strikes a nerve. The prevailing sentiment among players is one of apprehension, as they ponder the implications of this precedent for the future of gaming.
As the dust settles on this turbulent episode, the ball now rests firmly in Ubisoft’s court. Will they heed the impassioned pleas of their player base, or will The Crew 2 become another casualty in the ongoing battle between developers and consumers? Only time will tell whether Ubisoft’s reputation can weather this storm of discontent, or if it will be forever tarnished by its handling of The Crew’s swansong.
