Ubisoft clarifies that it will not delete active accounts with purchased games

Ubisoft has confirmed that it will not delete “inactive” accounts, which would result in the permanent deletion of digitally purchased games. A screenshot was shared on Twitter over the weekend – now, X – showing an email saying that Ubisoft has suspended a user’s UPlay account due to prolonged inactivity and will be deleting it. permanent for the next 30 days unless the user opts out. he is. The email contains an undelete link, which is usually a red flag, but Ubisoft’s official support team has confirmed that the email is legitimate and that users can avoid account termination by logging into their account within 30 days of receipt. email address. Even its terms of service state that Ubisoft accounts can be suspended if they are inactive for more than six months.

However, in a statement to IGN, Ubisoft confirmed that it had deleted several inactive accounts “over many years” in accordance with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to limit the period allowed to the company. save user information. . The company says it has never deleted accounts that have been inactive for less than four years “to date,” and that logging into non-Ubisoft-affiliated platforms like Steam will prevent account deletion. PC gamers typically enjoy most, if not all, of their games on Steam, which serves as their place to play Ubisoft games, despite the extra step required to connect to UPlay/Ubisoft Connect. What makes people angry is that the idea of ​​permanently losing access to purchased titles and in-game items, which the company has now clarified, is not affected.

“In any case, before the deletion is complete, the player will be sent three emails within 30 days offering to restore their account,” the statement said. “Additionally, if a user attempts to log in within the 30-day window, they will automatically receive a warning and a link to reactivate their account.” It would still be a good idea to update Ubisoft’s terms of service, which at the time of writing still mention a six-month period. The criteria also takes into account total gaming activity since creating a Ubisoft account, which is equivalent to hours spent playing the game on Steam.

Elsewhere, reports in late June indicated that Ubisoft was planning to remake 2013’s Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag , which initially swapped the stealth and conspiracy formula for a more interesting story of pirates and naval warfare. in his heart. The team at Ubisoft Singapore, long involved with Assassin’s Creed’s ocean technology, is heavily involved in the remake, which is still in its early stages and will be released “a few years from now.” Meanwhile, its other long-awaited pirate game, Skull and Bones, has been in development hell, showing off another trailer at Ubisoft’s Forward event last month. The closed beta is scheduled for August 25-28.

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