A significant pushback against the practice of rendering video games unplayable after support ends is underway in the EU. The "Stop Destroying Video Games" petition has already surpassed its signature threshold in seven member states, propelling it closer to its ambitious 1 million signature goal.
EU Gamers Unite
39% of the Way to 1 Million Signatures
The petition has achieved remarkable success, exceeding the required signature count in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden. This impressive feat has resulted in a total of 397,943 signatures – a significant 39% of the required 1 million.
Launched in June, this initiative directly addresses the growing concern of games becoming unplayable after publishers end support. The petition advocates for legislation mandating that publishers maintain the functionality of online games, even after official server shutdowns. This would prevent publishers from remotely disabling games without providing reasonable alternatives to ensure continued playability.
As the petition states, "This initiative calls for publishers selling or licensing videogames in the EU to maintain said videogames in a playable state. It aims to prevent the remote disabling of videogames by publishers without providing viable means for continued gameplay independent of the publisher."
The petition highlights the controversy surrounding Ubisoft's decision to shut down servers for The Crew in March 2024, leaving millions of players unable to access their purchased game. This incident, among others, fueled the campaign's momentum. The petition argues that such actions violate consumer rights.
While the petition is still working towards its 1 million signature goal, EU citizens of voting age can still contribute until July 31st, 2025. While non-EU citizens cannot sign, they can help by spreading awareness of this important initiative.
