Ubisoft has begun deleting inactive accounts on its Ubisoft Connect platform. The decision has been met with a barrage of criticism from users and media outlets alike, who argue that the company is infringing on consumer rights.
Ubisoft Connect users have been receiving emails warning of the imminent deletion of their accounts. The only way to save an account, according to Ubisoft’s Twitter page, is to use the service or log into the profile once a notification is received. If the user fails to click on the “Cancel Account Closure” button within 30 days of receiving the notification, the account will be permanently closed, and all purchased games will become inaccessible.
Ubisoft justifies this decision by citing the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which mandates companies to comply with personal information protection laws. According to Ubisoft, only inactive accounts that have not been used for four years or more are being closed. However, this explanation has not quelled the backlash.
Critics argue that Ubisoft is violating consumer rights and ignoring the laws of certain countries where digital purchases are considered equivalent to physical ones and cannot be revoked by the seller. The uproar over Ubisoft’s new policy has led to a surge in criticism, with some users even calling for a boycott of the company’s products.
As the controversy continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how Ubisoft will respond to the backlash and whether it will reconsider its policy.