European Gamers Launch Petition to Save Digital Games from Publisher Shutdowns

A European citizen's initiative, "Stop Killing Games," is gaining momentum, aiming to protect players' digital game purchases from disappearing when publishers end support. The petition seeks one million signatures to propose EU legislation preventing game companies from making games unplayable after service termination.

The initiative, spearheaded by Ross Scott, seeks to hold publishers accountable for server shutdowns that render online-only games inaccessible, effectively wasting players' investments. The proposed law, if successful, would only apply within the EU, but organizers hope it will influence global industry practices.

The "Stop Killing Games" petition, launched in August 2024, has already garnered significant support, exceeding 183,593 signatures. The campaign has a year to reach the one-million-signature threshold required to submit a legislative proposal to the EU.

Ubisoft's shutdown of The Crew in March 2024, impacting 12 million players, highlights the urgency of the issue. This, coupled with recent closures of titles like SYNCED and NEXON's Warhaven, underscores the growing concern over the loss of digital purchases.

Scott argues that this practice is a form of planned obsolescence, comparing it to the historical loss of silent films due to silver recovery practices. The petition doesn't demand source code or intellectual property rights; it simply mandates that games remain playable at the time of shutdown, leaving the implementation method to the publishers. Even free-to-play games with microtransactions would be subject to this legislation, ensuring the preservation of purchased in-game items. The petition clarifies that it does not require: endless support, server hosting, giving up IP rights or source code, or assuming liability for player actions.

The successful shutdown and subsequent free-to-play release of Knockout City with private server support serves as a potential model for future game preservation.

To support the campaign, visit the "Stop Killing Games" website and sign the petition. Remember, only one signature per person is allowed. Even non-Europeans can contribute by spreading awareness of the initiative. The organizers hope to create a ripple effect across the gaming industry to prevent future game closures.