A European Union petition demanding publishers maintain the playability of online games after server shutdowns is gaining significant traction. The "Stop Destroying Video Games" initiative has already surpassed its signature threshold in seven EU nations.
Strong EU Gamer Support
The petition has secured 397,943 signatures – 39% of its 1 million target – across Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden. Several countries have even exceeded their individual signature goals.
This initiative directly addresses the growing concern of games becoming unplayable following the termination of publisher support. The petition advocates for legislation compelling publishers to ensure continued functionality, even after official server closures.
As stated in the petition, the goal is to prevent publishers from remotely disabling games without providing reasonable alternatives for continued gameplay.
The petition highlights the controversy surrounding Ubisoft's shutdown of The Crew in March 2024. Despite a substantial player base (estimated at 12 million globally), server issues and licensing problems led to the game's deactivation, infuriating players and prompting legal action in California.
While the petition still needs considerable support to reach its million-signature goal, EU citizens of voting age have until July 31st, 2025, to sign. Non-EU gamers can contribute by promoting the petition within their networks.
