A European Citizen's Initiative seeks to protect digital game purchases by preventing publishers from shutting down online games and rendering them unplayable. The "Stop Killing Games" petition, aiming for one million signatures within a year, calls on the EU to legislate against this practice. Inspired by Ubisoft's shutdown of The Crew, which impacted 12 million players, the petition highlights the loss of significant player investment when servers are unexpectedly closed.
The initiative, spearheaded by Ross Scott, aims to hold publishers accountable for server shutdowns, arguing that this constitutes a form of planned obsolescence. While the proposed law would only apply within the EU, organizers hope its success will influence global industry standards. The petition clarifies that it doesn't demand relinquishing intellectual property, source code, or indefinite support, but rather that games remain playable at the time of server closure. This includes free-to-play games with microtransactions, ensuring purchased items remain accessible. The petition cites Knockout City's successful transition to a free-to-play model with private server support as a positive example.
The petition, launched in August 2024, has already garnered considerable support, but requires a significant number of additional signatures to reach the one million threshold needed to submit a legislative proposal. While only EU citizens of voting age can sign, supporters from other regions are encouraged to spread awareness of the campaign. The initiative emphasizes the potential for a ripple effect across the gaming industry, preventing future game closures and protecting player investments. Visit the "Stop Killing Games" website to learn more and sign the petition. Note that only one signature per person is allowed.
