Fan Project to Revive “The Crew” Set to Launch After Ubisoft Server Closure Sparks Preservation Debate
PARIS, FRANCE – A dedicated team of independent developers is poised to release The Crew Unlimited, a fan-made project designed to restore full playability to the racing game The Crew after Ubisoft’s decision to shut down its official servers in March 2024. The move by Ubisoft, wich left players unable to access the game even with a physical copy due to the lack of an offline mode, ignited a wider conversation about video game preservation and ownership rights.
Ubisoft defended its decision by citing player licenses rather than outright ownership of the title. However, the server closure galvanized a community of players – dubbed “crewers” – to take matters into their own hands.
The Crew Unlimited aims to emulate the functionality of the original servers, offering both offline and online play. According to the growth team, the offline mode will function as a local server running on the player’s PC, ensuring continued access to the game regardless of external factors.
“This would allow us to actually implement both an offline mode and an online mode in the game,” the team explained in a statement. “The offline mode would simply be a local server who runs on your PC mentre you play the title. Your local server, your local rescues, your game. Nobody can ever take it to you again.”
The project, born shortly after the official servers went offline, has been a year-long effort. The team plans to release The Crew Unlimited on September 15, 2025, and will offer it free of charge to avoid potential legal issues with Ubisoft.
More information about The Crew Unlimited can be found on the project’s video game industry.
