European Gamers Launch Petition to Save Online Games from Server Shutdowns

A European citizen's initiative, "Stop Killing Games," is demanding EU legislation to protect players' digital purchases. The petition, sparked by Ubisoft's shutdown of The Crew, aims to prevent game publishers from rendering games unplayable after ending support.

The "Stop Killing Games" Campaign

The petition, spearheaded by Ross Scott, seeks to hold publishers accountable for server shutdowns that erase players' investments. Scott is confident the initiative aligns with existing consumer protection policies and believes success in the EU could influence global industry standards.

The campaign faces a significant hurdle: it needs one million signatures from EU citizens of voting age within one year to submit a formal legislative proposal. As of August, the petition has already garnered over 183,000 signatures.

The Impact of Server Shutdowns

The shutdown of The Crew in March 2024 highlighted the issue, rendering 12 million players' investments obsolete. This isn't an isolated incident; games like SYNCED and NEXON's Warhaven have also faced premature closure. Scott describes this practice as "planned obsolescence," comparing it to the loss of silent films due to silver recovery practices.

The petition's proposal mandates that publishers maintain the functionality of games sold within the EU, even after support ends. The specific implementation method is left to the publishers. This even extends to free-to-play games with microtransactions, ensuring players aren't left without access to purchased content.

The initiative clarifies what it won't require: relinquishing intellectual property rights, source code, endless support, server hosting, or liability for player actions. The example of Knockout City, which transitioned to a free-to-play model with private server support after shutdown, demonstrates a possible solution.

How You Can Help

To support the "Stop Killing Games" campaign, visit their website and sign the petition (one signature per person). Even non-EU residents can help by spreading awareness. The campaign aims to create a ripple effect across the gaming industry, preventing future game closures.