Home Gaming Ubisoft reinstates fraudulent Far Cry 4 keys

Ubisoft reinstates fraudulent Far Cry 4 keys

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goodguyubi

Last month, Ubisoft deactivated a number of keys for its fun-as-f…lip open world shooter, Far Cry 4. It turned out that those keys happened to have been stolen; bought using fraudulent credit cards and resold on sites like G2A and Kinguin. They had every right to nix those keys – but the whole issue’s still caused great ire and furious vitriol – especially from consumers who’d already been playing their ill-gotten game. Ubisoft’s making right by those affected.

If you’d already been playing the game, to find that your key had been deactivated and the game removed from your library, you’re in for some good news. Ubisoft has re-enabled the thing.

“After further investigation into the matter of keys that were fraudulently purchased on EA’s Origin store, we are reinstating keys for consumers who already had successfully activated and started playing the games,” a representative said to GameInformer. “Any remaining fraudulently obtained and resold keys have been deactivated.”

They will, in future though, be a little more vigilant and monitor keys more closely  – hopefully to prevent a fiasco like this from ever happening.

“We are working with EA to prevent situations like this from happening again, and we will continue to deactivate keys that are found to be fraudulently obtained and resold,” Ubisoft said. “We strongly recommend that players purchase keys and downloadable games only from the Uplay shop or trusted retailers.”

To be frank, Ubisoft didn’t have to do this, but it’s a smart decision on their part to maintain some semblance of customer satisfaction. Of course, it still sucks for those who’ve gone out and bought legitimate keys in the interim – but it’s a good lesson in making sure you buy games that haven’t fallen off the back of a digital truck.

Last Updated: February 3, 2015

36 Comments

  1. Admiral Chief

    February 3, 2015 at 11:36

    GoodGuyOobi, ok that is pretty funny, still, silly Oobi

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      February 3, 2015 at 11:42

      Oobi one key Noobi?

      Reply

      • Jaded_Reprobate

        February 3, 2015 at 11:43

        LOL

        Reply

  2. HairyEwok

    February 3, 2015 at 11:36

    Good they got it right now. It was their fault for the keys being illegally sold without proper security. The people just bought them without know they were illegal. Good on you good guy ubisoft for biting the bullet and giving those people their keys back to play the game.

    Reply

    • Tosh MA

      February 3, 2015 at 11:39

      Their fault? Um. Resellers bought keys, then went to the bank and reversed the charges WHILE KEEPING THE KEYS. That’s theft. So someone breaks into your house and steals all your shit. Is that your fault? Good god man.

      Reply

      • Dutch Matrix

        February 3, 2015 at 11:41

        To answer your question: yes. if I had proper security installed at my house, burglar bars and the like, I would not have been robbed twice already.
        But if a purchase is reversed at the bank, why hasn’t Steam/Ubisoft/whoever’s accounts department not pick that up and blocked those keys to start off with?

        Reply

        • Tosh MA

          February 3, 2015 at 11:43

          As they said, they will keep a closer eye on things. But it isn’t their fault someone robbed them. That’s all I’m saying.

          Also, you didn’t invite robbers into your home, did you? It’s not your fault, no matter how much or little security you have.

          Reply

          • Dutch Matrix

            February 3, 2015 at 11:43

            In this country, not having proper security is an invitation to robbers. Please rob me! I am here!

          • Tosh MA

            February 3, 2015 at 11:45

            Is it your fault crime is so rampant? No. It’s not your fault. You didn’t tell them to rob you. This mentality is dumb. The same thing applies to the “you wore a skirt, you were asking to be raped” mentality. It’s the same thing. It’s dumb, and it places blame on the victim when it’s the perpetrator’s fault.

            No matter, let’s not derail this. Stolen keys are stolen, and it’s not Ubisoft’s fault they were stolen.

          • Dutch Matrix

            February 3, 2015 at 11:49

            I hear you and to an extent I agree. But the real stupidity in my eyes is people knowing robberies is a problem in this country and not preparing for it.
            And no, no matter what a woman does or dresses like, she is not asking to be raped.

          • Tosh MA

            February 3, 2015 at 11:52

            To me it’s the exact same thing. Just because one is a far more violent crime, doesn’t change the mentality behind it.

            It’s just a sad state of things. Anyway, again. Let’s not derail this article XD

          • Raptor Rants A Lot:Original #7

            February 3, 2015 at 12:46

            In this country even having proper security doesn’t stop you from being robbed.

            Some guy had his house burgled after ADT had worked on his system and not gotten it working that day as it was faulty. That night they were mugged at gunpoint in their home. Is that their fault the system failed?

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            February 3, 2015 at 11:44

            Hang on, first let’s find out where he lives…

          • Tosh MA

            February 3, 2015 at 11:44

            LEL!

          • Dutch Matrix

            February 3, 2015 at 11:45

            Do you really want to rob the guy that decapitated enemy soldiers by throwing saw blades WITH HIS BARE HANDS????? https://www.cult-labs.com/forums/attachments/past-competitions-2012/87680d1350992538-weekly-comp-amsterdamned-22-october-2012-finished-before.jpg

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            February 3, 2015 at 11:46

            It’s just a flesh wound!

          • Tosh MA

            February 3, 2015 at 11:47

            Unless its in the knee.

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            February 3, 2015 at 11:47

            I’m getting too old for adventuring anyway.

          • RinceThis

            February 3, 2015 at 12:08

            Ain’t that the truth! Theheheh

          • Dutch Matrix

            February 3, 2015 at 11:48

            Tell HIM that… Refresh

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            February 3, 2015 at 11:49

            WALK IT OFF, YOU DRAMA QUEEN!

          • Dutch Matrix

            February 3, 2015 at 11:50

            He tried. And his head fell off…

          • Blood Emperor Trevor

            February 3, 2015 at 11:50

            Excuses.

        • Kensei Seraph

          February 3, 2015 at 12:05

          I have proper security at my house and I’ve been robbed at gun point.
          There’s not much your security is going to do when you and your brother both have guns a few centimetres from you face.

          Reply

        • Gideon Venter

          February 3, 2015 at 15:47

          Dude, no.

          Reply

    • Raptor Rants A Lot:Original #7

      February 3, 2015 at 12:44

      Unfortunately fraud is never their fault. They bought the stuff with either stolen cards or fake cards and then reversed the charges. So Ubi got no money and lost all the keys.

      Should they have deactivated the keys immediately? Probably but we don’t know what legal litigation was occurring in the background that may have been preventing them from doing so at the time

      Reply

  3. Ghost In The Rift

    February 3, 2015 at 11:36

    Gotta love those double standards..XD*runs*

    Reply

  4. Admiral Chief

    February 3, 2015 at 11:37

    I’m sure they will make it up with all the damn DLC

    Reply

  5. RinceThis

    February 3, 2015 at 11:41

    They will, in future though, be a little more vigilant and monitor keys more closely in future – hopefully to prevent a fiasco like this from ever happening. “I think you could have thrown another FUTURE in there ol buddy! *RUNS

    Reply

  6. WitWolfy

    February 3, 2015 at 11:54

    Might get this game in the future…

    Reply

  7. Kensei Seraph

    February 3, 2015 at 12:03

    “only from the Uplay shop or trusted retailers.”
    It seems Ubisoft still don’t consider Uplay a trusted retailer.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief

      February 3, 2015 at 12:08

      Oh snap

      Reply

    • Tosh MA

      February 3, 2015 at 12:09

      LOL well spotted!

      Reply

    • RinceThis

      February 3, 2015 at 12:13

      Would you? 0_O

      Reply

      • Kensei Seraph

        February 3, 2015 at 12:18

        I was taught that stupid questions deserve equally stupid answers but I can’t think of anything worthy of your question.

        Reply

  8. Raptor Rants A Lot:Original #7

    February 3, 2015 at 12:43

    I don’t agree with the re-activation. It’s neither the right thing to do nor the smart thing.

    1) In this case they actually lose. It’s not like a pirated game that can’t access all the co-op features etc. Here the stuff was fraudulently obtained, the money never received AND now those users are taxing the online servers. Ubi loses here.
    2) They are telling people it’s OK to obtain keys in “suspect” ways. The next time this happens they will have to oblige yet again, because they’ve set the bar.

    Look, I don’t like Ubi, but this is what actually hurts the industry. Do you know what the smart thing would have been? Giving people credit on the Ubisoft store or whatever to the value that the consumer paid.

    That way you are showing that you care about the lost money of the consumer and that you care for them AND you can recuperate some of the lost cash with the pay-in the users would need to buy the actual game.

    Look, it was nice of Ubi to do, but this is just going to further the companies belief that piracy is hurting them (In this case it did yes, but it’s more fraud and not piracy as piracy doesn’t allow onine use of the games) and then there is more DRM from them. Customers all over lose out

    Reply

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