European Gamers Launch Petition to Save Online Games from Server Shutdowns

A European citizen's initiative, "Stop Killing Games," is striving to protect players' digital investments by pushing for EU legislation to prevent game publishers from shutting down online games and rendering them unplayable. The petition, launched in August 2024, aims to gather one million signatures within a year to force the EU to consider a legislative proposal.

The initiative's catalyst was Ubisoft's closure of The Crew, an online-only racing game, in March 2024, leaving 12 million players with unplayable purchases. This highlights the growing concern over the loss of significant player investment in online-only titles when servers are unexpectedly shut down. Other games like SYNCED and NEXON's Warhaven have already met similar fates in 2024.

Ross Scott, a key organizer, describes server shutdowns as "planned obsolescence," comparing it to the loss of silent films due to silver recovery practices. The petition seeks to hold publishers accountable, not by demanding endless support or server hosting, but by ensuring games remain playable at the time of shutdown. This applies even to free-to-play games with microtransactions, as purchased in-game items represent a tangible investment. The initiative clarifies that it does not seek to infringe on intellectual property rights, source code access, or impose liability for player actions.

The petition has already garnered significant support, exceeding 183,593 signatures. While a significant number remain needed, the campaign has a full year to reach its one million signature goal. The "Stop Killing Games" website provides detailed information and instructions on signing the petition, emphasizing that only one signature per person is valid. Even non-European citizens are encouraged to spread awareness of the initiative to create a global impact on industry practices.

The success of this petition could set a precedent, influencing both legislation and industry standards globally to protect players' investments in digital games.