At the time of writing, the “Stop Killing Games” initiative has officially surpassed 1.1 million signatures, with only the verification process left before the petition is presented to the European Commission. The initiative aims to ensure that video games requiring online connectivity remain playable even after publishers shut down their servers. It seeks a legal framework obligating developers and publishers to provide an offline fallback plan in case support ends.
The proposal does not request intellectual property rights or additional resources from publishers, only that players can continue accessing the products they have paid for. The initiative was launched in 2024 after Ubisoft shut down servers for The Crew on March 31, 2024, rendering the always-online racing game unplayable.
As organizer Ross Scott, known for his YouTube channel Accursed Farms, pointed out, a portion of signatures may be invalid due to incorrect information or submissions from non-EU citizens. For example, in Germany, signing only requires a name, surname, and address, while in Croatia, signing requires a national ID number (OIB), increasing the risk of invalid entries. However, the key requirement is reaching one million valid signatures after verification, which begins after July 31, 2025.
The Stop Killing Games initiative not only advocates for consumer rights but also highlights the importance of preserving video games as cultural heritage. EA’s Anthem, which will be shut down in January next year, further demonstrates the necessity of such measures. Although it initially seemed difficult to gather enough support, controversies such as the drama involving PirateSoftware (who opposed the initiative), along with positive promotion from influencers and content creators, significantly boosted visibility.
If you haven’t yet signed the petition, you can do so here.
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