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. The "Stop Killing Games" citizen's initiative aims to compel the European Union to legislate against game publishers shutting down servers and rendering games unplayable after ending support. This follows Ubisoft's controversial shutdown of The Crew, which effectively erased the progress of 12 million players.
The petition, launched in August 2024, needs one million signatures within a year to trigger a formal legislative proposal. Organizer Ross Scott is optimistic, pointing to the initiative's alignment with existing consumer protection policies. While the law's reach would be limited to Europe, Scott hopes its success will inspire global change, either through similar legislation or industry self-regulation.
The initiative focuses on holding publishers accountable for server closures, highlighting the significant loss of time and money invested by players. Games like SYNCED and NEXON's Warhaven have already faced similar fates in 2024, underscoring the urgency of the issue.
"It's a form of planned obsolescence," Scott argues, comparing the practice to the lost films of the silent era. The petition doesn't demand publishers relinquish intellectual property, source code, or provide perpetual support. Instead, it seeks to ensure games remain playable at the time of server shutdown, leaving the implementation details to the publishers. This even applies to free-to-play games with microtransactions, protecting players' in-game purchases.
The successful shutdown and subsequent free-to-play relaunch of Knockout City with private server support serves as a positive example of how this could work.
The petition explicitly won't require:
- Relinquishing intellectual property rights
- Handing over source code
- Providing endless support
- Hosting servers indefinitely
- Assuming liability for player actions
While only European citizens of voting age can sign, Scott encourages global support by spreading awareness of the campaign. The hope is to create a widespread movement that pressure the video game industry to protect player investment and prevent future game closures. To sign the petition, visit the "Stop Killing Games" website. Remember, each person can only sign once.
