Ubisoft sued for shutting down The Crew ⚖️ Indie Pass launch 🕹️
A French consumer group has filed suit against Ubisoft over the shutdown of The Crew, challenging whether publishers can revoke access to purchased games. The case could set a precedent affecting how live service games are sold and discontinued across the EU. (Game Developer)
April 2, 2026 | Subscribe | Read On Web
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Top Stories
French consumer group sues Ubisoft over shutdown of The Crew (4 min read)
A French consumer group has filed suit against Ubisoft over the shutdown of The Crew, challenging whether publishers can revoke access to purchased games. The case could set a precedent affecting how live service games are sold and discontinued across the EU. (Game Developer)
Indie.io launches Indie Pass on April 13 — a $6.99/month subscription service starting with 70 indie titles. Developers earn via engagement-based revenue share, with no exclusivity requirements and access to back-catalogue discoverability tools. (Gamesindustry)
Business & Finance
Despite a wave of negative Steam reviews, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 is estimated to generate ~$30,000 in revenue per negative review. 💰 The data illustrates how blockbuster titles can financially absorb review-bombing that would devastate smaller games. (Game Developer)
Studios & People
Goat Simulator maker Coffee Stain shutters Malmo studio (4 min read)
Coffee Stain is closing its Malmö studio, the team behind Goat Simulator 3. The shutdown adds to a growing list of European indie studio closures in recent years. (Game Developer)
MechWarrior dev Piranha Games reportedly affected by redundancies (1 min read)
Piranha Games has conducted another round of layoffs, with former employees citing "economic restructuring." Affected roles include writing, VFX, environment art, level design, and engineering — the studio's second significant cut since January 2025. (Gamesindustry)
Games & Releases
Stormgate's server orchestration provider Hathora was acquired by an AI company, forcing the always-online RTS to emergency-patch in an offline mode before end of April. 🚨 Online multiplayer remains unavailable until Frost Giant secures a new server partner. (Kotaku)
Coin-pusher roguelike Raccoin sold 100,000 copies on Steam within 24 hours of its March 31 launch. A strong signal for the "number go up" genre's continued momentum among indie titles. 🦝 (Polygon)
AI/Tech & Tools
Nexon believes AI will shift developers away from routine coding toward higher-level creative work. The Arc Raiders publisher is positioning AI adoption as a core part of its development strategy going forward. (Game Developer)
Culture & Community
On the ground at GDC: how are devs responding to industry calamity? (10 min read)
Developers at GDC are navigating a climate of layoffs and industry uncertainty, with on-the-ground sentiment reflecting both anxiety and resilience. The conference continues to serve as a key gathering point for devs processing the industry's ongoing turbulence. (Game Developer)
Landfall (Peak) and Aggro Crab publicly pushed back on players demanding continuous updates, stating post-launch support is a bonus, not an obligation. A useful reminder for indie devs navigating player expectations on non-live-service titles. (PC Gamer)
gg! see you in game!