MMO Game Preservation Efforts Require One Million Signatures to Propose EU Law

European Gamers Launch Petition to Save Online Games from Server Shutdowns

A significant push is underway in Europe to protect players' investments in online games. Following Ubisoft's controversial shutdown of The Crew, a citizen's initiative called "Stop Killing Games" is gaining traction, aiming to force the European Union into enacting legislation to prevent publishers from rendering games unplayable after ending support.

The "Stop Killing Games" Campaign: A Million Signatures Needed

The initiative, spearheaded by Ross Scott and others, seeks to hold game publishers accountable for server shutdowns that effectively erase players' in-game purchases and countless hours of gameplay. Scott is confident in the initiative's potential success, citing its alignment with existing consumer protection policies. While the proposed law would only apply within the EU, the hope is that its success in such a large market will influence global industry standards.

The campaign faces a steep challenge: securing one million signatures across various European countries within one year to formally submit a legislative proposal. Eligibility is simple; any EU citizen of voting age can participate, though age requirements vary by country. As of August, the petition has already garnered over 183,000 signatures, demonstrating significant early support.

Holding Publishers Accountable

The impetus for this initiative stems from the closure of The Crew, a 2014 online-only racing game, which rendered 12 million players' purchases worthless. This isn't an isolated incident; games like SYNCED and NEXON's Warhaven have also met premature ends in 2024, highlighting the growing problem of planned obsolescence in the gaming industry.

Scott describes the practice as "a form of planned obsolescence," where publishers profit from sales while retaining the power to destroy the product, leaving players with nothing but the cost of their purchase. The petition advocates for publishers to maintain game functionality at the time of server shutdown, ensuring players can still access their purchased content. The initiative specifically states that publishers "shall leave said videogames in a functional (playable) state." The exact method of achieving this would be left to the publishers' discretion.

The initiative's scope even extends to free-to-play games with microtransactions, stating that the loss of purchased in-game items due to server closure constitutes a loss of goods. The successful transition of Knockout City to a free-to-play standalone game with private server support serves as a positive example of a possible solution.

What the Initiative Won't Require:

• Publishers to relinquish intellectual property rights
• Publishers to release source code
• Publishers to provide indefinite support
• Publishers to host servers indefinitely
• Publishers to assume liability for player actions

To support the "Stop Killing Games" campaign, visit their website and sign the petition. Remember, only one signature per person is allowed. The website provides country-specific instructions to ensure signature validity. Even those outside the EU can contribute by spreading awareness of the initiative and its goals. The ultimate aim is to create a widespread impact on the gaming industry, preventing future game closures and protecting player investments.