Katarzyna Petru
Ross Scott and his community have hit 1.4 million signatures. And this is just the beginning.
This is no longer just a fan campaign from the internet. The initiative "Stop Killing Games," led by Ross Scott (yes, the one from "Accursed Farms"), has surpassed 1.4 million signatures – well above the EU's required threshold of 1 million. And although some of these votes may be rejected during the verification process, the community still delivered. Now the European Commission will have to address this.
Scott is not declaring victory yet – rightly so. He consistently warns that the game publishers' lobby is already scheming on how to discredit the entire initiative. Lobbyists are set to enter the fray, pressuring MEPs to drop the topic.
What is “Stop Killing Games” fighting against?
The issue that has come under European scrutiny concerns the so-called “killing of games,” which is the practice of shutting down servers and blocking access to previously purchased titles – even in singleplayer mode. The most notable case was The Crew from Ubisoft, which, after the servers were shut down, not only lost functionality but also… vanished from players' accounts. Licences were revoked, and the game ceased to exist.
It is such decisions that have become a catalyst for international opposition. The initiative demands that the EU imposes an obligation on publishers to keep games playable – if not online, then at least offline. This is not about piracy, but about not losing access to something that has been paid for.
Industry says "stop" Stop Killing Games – publishers launch counterattack
Not everyone in the industry views the Stop Killing Games initiative with enthusiasm. The Video Games Europe organisation, representing the interests of publishers and developers in the European Union, has published an official statement warning of “negative consequences” of ensuring players permanent access to games after their official support has ended. According to VGE, the decision to shut down servers is a complex and costly process, and the requirement to keep games playable “could significantly limit creative freedom” and make designing many titles – especially those based on online infrastructure – unprofitable. They also point out issues related to data security, illegal content, and risks associated with private servers. While they emphasise that they understand players' disappointment, they believe that the current practice – of informing users in advance about planned service shutdowns – is sufficient and complies with consumer law. VGE announces a willingness to engage in dialogue with the European Commission and representatives of the initiative, but clearly indicates that it will not support systemic changes without a fight.
What’s next? It’s not the end of the signatures yet
The signature collection is ongoing until 31 July, so if you haven’t signed yet – this is your last chance. Scott warns that although we’ve crossed the comfort line, every additional signature is a safety buffer in case of rejected submissions. It’s also a clear signal to politicians: players have had enough.
And the industry? Well, if the EU actually takes action, this could be one of the most significant precedents in the history of digital game distribution. And let it be so.
Source: gryonline.pl
