In recent news, a petition is gaining traction in the European Union, calling for video game license publishers to preserve video games even after support ends. With over 200,000 European citizens backing the petition, the goal is to pass a law that would require publishers to maintain their games for players to access even when servers are shut down.
One of the main issues highlighted by the petition is the practice of some video games requiring players to connect directly to the publisher’s servers to play. When publishers decide to end support and shut down these servers, all working copies of the game are often destroyed, leaving players unable to access the game they purchased. This practice is seen as a violation of consumer rights and ownership, as it effectively robs customers of their purchases and makes restoration impossible.
The Stop Killing Games petition, as it is called, is spearheaded by Aleksej Vjalicin, who was prompted to start the campaign after French gaming company Ubisoft shut down support for „The Crew,“ an online-only racing game with a large player base. The petition calls for companies to have an „end-of-life plan“ in place for their games, ensuring that they remain playable even after servers are turned off. This would apply to games that sell game assists or features through microtransactions.
Vjalicin and his group see this issue as a consumer rights problem that needs to be addressed. They believe that players should not be at risk of losing access to games they have purchased at any time, simply because a company decides to shut down servers. The petition aims to hold publishers accountable for providing continued access to games that players have paid for.
While the issue is seen as a global concern, the campaign is focusing on the European Union due to the stronger consumer protection rights in countries like France. YouTuber Ross Scott, who is supporting the Stop Killing Games campaign, believes that legislation in the EU could set a precedent for other regions to follow suit, ultimately benefiting players worldwide.
The petition is being presented as a European Citizens‘ Initiative (ECI), a mechanism that allows citizens to suggest new legislation. If the petition garners over one million signatures from at least seven member countries before July 31, 2025, the European Commission will have to consider proposing new legislation. While the Stop Games initiative has signatories from 27 member states, it is currently below the mandatory thresholds set by the European Commission for those countries.
In response to a similar petition in the UK, the government emphasized the importance of providing clear information and continued access to games for players. While there is no requirement for companies to support older versions of their systems, businesses must be transparent about the longevity of games and provide repair or replacement options for digital content that does not meet quality standards.
Overall, the Stop Killing Games petition is shedding light on an important issue in the gaming industry and advocating for the preservation of players‘ rights and access to the games they love. With the support of hundreds of thousands of European citizens, the campaign is pushing for change and hoping to make a lasting impact on the future of gaming preservation.