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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →When a publisher shuts down a game’s servers, the game may lose only online features, remain playable offline, or become inaccessible altogether. The outcome depends on whether the game needs those servers to authenticate, launch, save progress, or run its core gameplay—not simply on whether you bought a physical or digital copy.
What can stop working when game servers shut down?
A server shutdown does not affect every game in the same way. A game may use publisher servers for several distinct functions, and losing one does not necessarily mean losing them all.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
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Nex Playground - The Active Play System for Kids & Families Where Indoor Physical Activity Meets... | $299.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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Marvel's Wolverine PS5 | $69.00 | Buy on Amazon |
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- Online features only: Multiplayer, leaderboards, player statistics, in-game news, or other connected services may disappear while offline modes continue to work.
- Some modes or content: Online-dependent modes, account-linked features, or downloadable content may stop working even if the rest of the game remains playable.
- The whole game: If the game depends on the publisher’s servers to authenticate or launch, it may become inaccessible when those servers go offline.
The European Commission has identified server dependency as a reason an online game may become partly or entirely unusable. The practical question for an owner is what the specific game requires—not whether it is described as single-player or multiplayer.
Examples: offline play can survive, but not always
The Crew became inaccessible
On 14 December 2023, Ubisoft announced that The Crew would be delisted and that owners could play until 31 March 2024. Ubisoft said that after the shutdown the game would no longer be accessible on PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Amazon Luna, or Ubisoft+. It cited server infrastructure and licensing constraints. The announcement directed recent purchasers to the refund policy of the store where they bought the game. Ubisoft’s announcement
#1 Best Overall
- 5 GAMES INCLUDED. UNLOCK MORE WITH PLAY PASS. Playground comes with Fruit Ninja, Starri, Whac-a-Mole, Go Keeper, and Party Fowl. A separate purchase of a 3-Month ($49) or 12-Month Play Pass ($89) is required to access the full catalog of games and get new games each month, including Barbie, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, How to Train Your Dragon, Peppa Pig, Care Bears, Elmo, Miraculous Ladybug, Gabby's Dollhouse, Kung Fu Panda and more.
- GET MOVING WITH ACTIVE FAMILY FUN. Nex Playground is a new kind of video game console that gets your family moving. It easily connects to your TV, transforming your living room into an active play space. Within minutes, your family will be playing Fruit Ninja, Whac-a-Mole and more. Using a built-in camera to track motion and natural body movements, anyone in the family can jump right in.
- JUST USE YOUR BODY TO PLAY. Play naturally just by moving your body. Playground uses the magic of AI to follow your movements using the built-in wide-angle camera. No controllers or clunky trackers! Up to 4 players can play at the same time, so everyone can get moving together.
- GAMES YOU'LL LOVE MOVING TO. Playground is packed with interactive motion games, turning your living room into an arcade, theme park, gym, and more. There is something for everyone. It is perfect for indoor family game night, after school activities, or a playdate with friends.
- EASY SET UP. Playground connects to your TV or projector with a simple HDMI connection and gets everyone in on the fun. It's small and sits elegantly on any console or mantle, and can easily fit in a backpack for playdates and more. From ages 5 and up—Playground is the life of every party.
Other games kept offline features
Ubisoft’s legacy-service notice says that, for most of the games on its list, offline features were unaffected even though online multiplayer, in-game news, and player statistics had been shut down. That illustrates why a service closure can remove connected features without disabling the whole game. Ubisoft’s legacy-service notice
Some features received a deadline or replacement
In an update dated 31 August 2022, Ubisoft said owners of certain PC games could activate single-player downloadable content before a revised shutdown date so they could continue playing it. Ubisoft also said it was preparing an update for Anno 2070 to replace the game’s old online services. These are examples of publisher preservation measures, not a guarantee that other games will receive an offline patch, replacement service, or advance activation window. Ubisoft’s legacy-service notice
How to check what will happen to your game
- Find the official shutdown notice. Check the publisher’s support site or the game’s official news page for the shutdown date, affected platforms, and features being removed.
- Look for server requirements. Determine whether servers are needed only for multiplayer or also for authentication, startup, saving, or core gameplay. A “single-player” label alone does not establish that the game works offline.
- Check which modes and content survive. Look for explicit details about local or offline play, account-linked features, downloadable content, and any activation deadline.
- Check your own purchase terms if you are considering a remedy. The relevant storefront, country, purchase date, and applicable terms can matter. Do not assume that a physical disc, a new console, or extra storage will bypass a server requirement.
Can you get a refund?
There is no general promise of a refund simply because a game’s servers are closing. Ubisoft’s The Crew announcement directed recent purchasers to the store where they bought the game. Ubisoft’s current digital PC game refund page describes a 14-day request window and a limit of two hours played, and says purchases through approved third-party retailers follow those retailers’ policies. Those are Ubisoft Store terms, not a universal rule for other storefronts or countries; check the live policy and the terms for your purchase before relying on them. Ubisoft Store refund information
Rank #2
- Marvel’s Wolverine is a new action-packed adventure from Insomniac Games
- Play as Wolverine and Ravage enemies with explosive brutality and unleash razor-sharp adamantium claws to deploy fast, fluid attacks and overcome impossible odds
- An Original, Emotionally Charged Story. Beneath Wolverine’s gruff exterior and violent temperament is a man fighting for a cause greater than himself
- A Global, Adrenaline-Fueled Journey where you slice into enemies across detailed locales such as the frosted Canadian Wilderness, the narrow streets of Tokyo, and the high and low districts of the island nation of Madripoor
What EU consumer rules establish—and what they do not
In a written answer issued on 5 June 2024, European Commission Vice-President Věra Jourová said EU consumer-protection legislation requires transparency about material aspects of an offer, protects consumers against unfair commercial practices and contract terms, and provides remedies when digital content or services lack conformity. She also said that the legislation does not set a specific duration for supplying products, including online video games. The answer describes conformity remedies but leaves individual disputes to national courts and administrative authorities. It is a Commission summary, not a decision on any particular game or buyer’s case, and it does not resolve every question under every country’s law. European Commission answer of 5 June 2024
For an individual purchase, the relevant country, storefront, date, contract terms, and facts can affect what options are available. The Commission’s answer does not guarantee an indefinite period of game access, nor does it by itself determine whether a particular shutdown breaches consumer law.
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