European Gamers Launch Petition to Save Online Games from Server Shutdowns
A European citizen's initiative, "Stop Killing Games," is demanding the European Union legislate against game publishers shutting down online games and rendering digital purchases unplayable. The petition, needing one million signatures within a year to be considered by the EU, has already garnered significant support.
The campaign, spearheaded by Ross Scott, aims to hold publishers accountable for server closures that erase player investments. The closure of Ubisoft's The Crew in March 2024, impacting 12 million players, highlights the urgency of the issue. Similar shutdowns of titles like SYNCED and NEXON’s Warhaven further underscore the problem of planned obsolescence in the gaming industry.
Scott argues that publishers are profiting from selling games then rendering them unplayable, comparing it to the historical practice of film studios destroying their own films. The proposed law wouldn't demand publishers relinquish intellectual property, source code, or provide endless support; it simply requires games to remain playable at the time of server shutdown. This includes free-to-play games with microtransactions, ensuring players aren't left with unusable in-game purchases. The success of Knockout City's transition to a free-to-play standalone game with private server support serves as a viable model.
The petition's success hinges on reaching the one million signature threshold. While a significant number of signatures have already been collected, the campaign has a year to achieve its goal. The website provides country-specific instructions to ensure signature validity. Even non-European gamers are encouraged to support the initiative by spreading awareness.
The "Stop Killing Games" campaign hopes to influence the gaming industry globally, setting a precedent for preserving player investments and preventing the loss of countless hours of gameplay. Visit the "Stop Killing Games" website to learn more and sign the petition.
