The Stop Killing Games petition, which calls for video game publishers to maintain playable access to games after official support ends, has recently surpassed one million signatures in the European Union. This milestone triggers a formal review process by the European Commission, potentially leading to legislative action aimed at protecting digital ownership rights and game preservation.
Background of the Stop Killing Games Petition
The petition was launched in April 2024 by Ross Scott, a YouTuber known for his channel Accursed Farms. It was created in response to growing concerns among gamers about games becoming unplayable after publishers shut down servers or revoke licenses. The immediate trigger was Ubisoft’s shutdown of servers for The Crew, which disabled both multiplayer and single-player modes. Ubisoft also removed the game from customers’ libraries, preventing any form of access.
The petition requests that publishers be legally required to keep games playable after support ends, either by providing offline modes or enabling private servers. It challenges the current industry practice of treating games as licensed services rather than owned products.
Petition Milestone and Political Process
By July 2025, the petition had exceeded the one million signature threshold required for submission to the European Commission. This allows the petition to enter a formal verification process, which could lead to public hearings or parliamentary debates within the European Union. The petition has also gained significant support in other regions, including the United Kingdom, where a similar petition has gathered over 150,000 signatures, prompting parliamentary consideration. Movements with similar goals have also emerged in Australia, Germany, and France.
Ross Scott has encouraged EU citizens to continue signing the petition, noting that some signatures have been invalidated due to errors or spoofing. He suggested aiming for around 1.4 million signatures to ensure the petition passes verification.
Publishers Oppose Petition Citing Legal and Server Concerns
Video Games Europe, a lobbying group representing major publishers such as Ubisoft, Take-Two, Warner Bros., Riot Games, Activision Blizzard, Microsoft, and Nintendo, issued a statement opposing the petition’s demands. The group stated that decisions to discontinue online services are complex and necessary when games are no longer commercially viable. They emphasized that such decisions are made with consideration and that players receive appropriate notice in accordance with consumer protection laws.
The group also raised concerns about the feasibility of private servers, citing potential legal liability for illegal or unsafe content hosted on unofficial servers. They stated that private servers are “not always a viable alternative option” for preserving games after shutdown.
Ross Scott responded to these points in a video, disputing the claim that rights holders would be legally liable for content on private servers for unsupported games. He clarified that the petition does not require developers to maintain online services indefinitely but aims to ensure games remain playable in some form after official support ends.
Current Industry Practices and Preservation Efforts
Some publishers have begun to address concerns related to game preservation. Ubisoft has tested offline modes for The Crew 2 and Motorfest. Indie developers such as Blizzard and Valon have released tools enabling peer-to-peer or private server functionality following game shutdowns. These actions indicate some recognition within the industry of the importance of maintaining access to games after official support ends.
Next Steps and Potential Outcomes
The Stop Killing Games petition will continue through the European Commission’s verification process, with a deadline for signature collection set for July 31, 2025. If approved, the petition could lead to legislative proposals aimed at protecting consumers’ digital ownership rights and ensuring game preservation.
The video game industry’s response highlights ongoing concerns about the costs and legal complexities of maintaining games after support ends. Meanwhile, the petition’s supporters advocate for stronger consumer protections and the preservation of video games as cultural products.
The Stop Killing Games petition has reached a significant milestone, prompting formal consideration by the European Commission. The petition calls for legal requirements that would keep games playable after official support ends. The video game industry, represented by Video Games Europe, has opposed these demands, citing commercial and legal challenges. The petition continues to gain support and may influence future legislation on digital ownership and game preservation.
Video Games Europe stated,
“We appreciate the passion of our community; however, the decision to discontinue online services is multi-faceted, never taken lightly and must be an option for companies when an online experience is no longer commercially viable.”
Ross Scott, the petition’s founder, said,
“No developers will be forced to continue supporting their online games indefinitely,”
and emphasized the goal of ensuring players retain access to games they have purchased.
The situation remains under review, and further developments are expected as the petition progresses through the European Union’s legislative process.
