Leaving a Ubisoft account inactive for too lengthy “apparently places it vulnerable to everlasting deletion,” writes PC Gamer, calling the coverage “a customer-unfriendly apply.”
A piracy and anti-DRM centered Twitter account, PC_enjoyer, not too long ago shared a screenshot of a Ubisoft assist e-mail telling the person that their Ubisoft account had been suspended for “inactivity,” and can be “completely closed” after 30 days. The e-mail offered a hyperlink to cancel the transfer. Now, that appears like a phishing rip-off, proper? I and lots of commenters puzzled that, wanting on the authentic submit, however lower than a day later, Ubisoft’s verified assist account responded to the tweet, seemingly confirming the screenshotted e-mail’s legitimacy.
“You possibly can keep away from the account closure by logging into your account throughout the 30 days (since receiving the e-mail pictured) and deciding on the Cancel Account Closure hyperlink contained within the e-mail,” Ubisoft Assist wrote. “We definitely are not looking for you to lose entry to your video games or account so when you have any difficulties logging in then please create a assist case with us.”
I used to be unable to seek out something concerning account closure for inactivity in Ubisoft’s US phrases of use or its finish person licence settlement, however the firm does reserve the appropriate to droop or finish companies at any time. Ubisoft has a assist web page titled “Closure of inactive Ubisoft accounts.” The web page first describes situations the place the service clashes with native information privateness legal guidelines, then reads: “We may shut long-term inactive accounts to keep up our database. You can be notified by e-mail if we start the method of closing your inactive account.”
This web page hyperlinks to a different devoted to voluntarily closing one’s Ubisoft account, and appears to function by the identical guidelines: a 30-day suspension earlier than everlasting deletion. “As we can be unable to get well the account as soon as it has been closed, we strongly advocate solely placing within the request in case you are completely positive you wish to shut your account.”
“When you have a very good spam filter or simply fairly assume it is a phishing try, you then would possibly at some point strive your previous video games and discover they’re simply gone,” worries long-time Slashdot reader Baron_Yam. “In case you’re somebody who nonetheless performs video games from a long time in the past occasionally, it is a situation you would possibly need to take into consideration.”
The location Eurogamer reviews that when a Twitter person complained that “I misplaced my Ubisoft account, and all of the Ubisoft Steam recreation[s] I’ve purchased are actually ineffective”, Ubisoft Assist “responded to say that gamers can increase a ticket in the event that they wish to get well their account.”
The original tweet now contains this “reader-added context” equipped by different Twitter customers — together with three informative hyperlinks:
For added context, Ubisoft will be required below sure information safety legal guidelines, such because the GDPR, to shut inactive accounts in the event that they deem the information not obligatory for assortment.
Ubisoft has claimed they do not shut accounts which are inactive for lower than 4 years.