Understanding Ubisoft's Account Deletion Policy

For gamers who enjoy Ubisoft's offerings, recent developments warrant attention. A user recently shared an email from Ubisoft, indicating that their account was flagged for inactivity and would be deleted in 30 days, resulting in the loss of access to their games. This revelation ignited a significant backlash from the gaming community, leading many to question the implications of Ubisoft’s policy regarding digital rights management (DRM).

According to Ubisoft's terms of service, accounts deemed inactive for six months can be removed. However, the company has stated that it has never deleted an account after less than four years of inactivity. Ubisoft clarified that accounts with purchased PC games are safeguarded from deletion, and the process follows four criteria: gaming activity, account libraries, duration of inactivity, and whether there is an active subscription. They also noted that users would receive three notifications before any account deletion becomes permanent, allowing them to reactivate their account by logging in within the 30-day period.

Ubisoft's stance seems to conflict with its own terms, as one user discovered their account was deleted after two years of inactivity when they logged in again in 2021. This raises important questions: Is Ubisoft misleading its customers, or is it attempting to protect them from potential fraud? Is the account deletion policy a protective measure or a contradiction?

In this article, I aim to delve into these issues and share my insights. I will reference various articles that discuss this topic, which are listed at the conclusion of this post.

First and foremost, I must express my skepticism regarding DRM in general. It often proves to be intrusive, limiting, and ineffective. DRM can restrict gamers from enjoying their purchases fully, impacting modding, sharing, and offline play. Additionally, it can introduce technical issues such as bugs and crashes, and it frequently fails to deter piracy, as determined hackers can bypass it.

Nevertheless, I acknowledge that DRM is unlikely to vanish anytime soon. It serves as a tool for developers and publishers to safeguard their intellectual property and revenue. Furthermore, DRM can provide gamers with valuable features like cloud saves and cross-play capabilities while helping regulators enforce age ratings and regional restrictions.

Thus, I advocate for a balanced and reasonable approach to DRM. It should not encroach upon the legitimate rights and interests of paying gamers. It should refrain from imposing unnecessary burdens or risks on players. Most importantly, it should respect the privacy and security of gamers who trust these platforms.

This brings us back to Ubisoft's account deletion policy. Ubisoft claims that this policy aligns with the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), which seeks to protect individual privacy within the European Union. The company argues that this policy adheres to legal standards and serves as a safeguard against fraud.

Yet, is this policy truly necessary and equitable? Does it protect players, or does it inflict harm? Is it compliant with GDPR, or does it infringe upon it?

I harbor some reservations regarding this policy. First, the notion of deleting an account due to inactivity seems excessively harsh and arbitrary. Inactivity does not equate to abandonment; various factors could contribute to a user's absence, including personal circumstances or technical difficulties. The deletion of an account for inactivity effectively erases valuable data and progress that users have accumulated over time.

Secondly, removing an account that holds purchased games is unjust and wasteful. These games represent not just products but investments of time and money. Deleting an account with purchased titles deprives users of ownership and access, which can be both costly and frustrating.

Lastly, the lack of clear and consistent criteria for account deletion renders the policy vague and confusing. Ubisoft’s terms of service suggest one thing, while their statements indicate another. The criteria are based on four factors, yet they remain ambiguous regarding measurement and weighting. Although users are supposed to receive three notifications, the details surrounding these communications are unclear.

These inconsistencies complicate users’ understanding of Ubisoft's policy and leave room for potential manipulation at the company's discretion. It also creates obstacles for users who may wish to contest or appeal against the policy if they are adversely affected.

Consequently, I believe that Ubisoft's account deletion policy is more of a contradiction than a protective measure. It conflicts with its own terms and past actions, undermines customer rights, and fails to align with the principles behind GDPR.

Ubisoft should consider revising its account deletion policy to enhance transparency and fairness. Updating the terms of service to accurately reflect actual practices, providing clear criteria for account deletion, and offering users more options to prevent or reverse deletions are all necessary steps.

Moreover, Ubisoft should respect its customers and their games. They should not treat gamers as disposable entities or take away access to their purchases. Listening to user feedback and addressing complaints should be a priority.

I sincerely hope Ubisoft acknowledges the concerns of its customers and seeks to improve its policy. An account deletion is not a solution; rather, it presents a significant issue. Ultimately, an account represents a person, not just a number.

Reference articles:

• Ubisoft now says it won't delete inactive accounts with purchased games, TechSpot, July 25, 2023
• No, Ubisoft won't delete your game-filled accounts, it claims, The Verge, July 24, 2023
• Ubisoft clarifies it does not delete inactive accounts that have purchased games after its policy came under question, PC Gamer, July 24, 2023

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The first video discusses Ubisoft's clarification regarding their account deletion policy, addressing concerns raised by the gaming community.

The second video features Ubisoft's response to the backlash, emphasizing that they do not delete players' games tied to inactive accounts.