A European Union petition demanding publishers maintain playable online games after support ends has gained significant traction. The "Stop Destroying Video Games" initiative is nearing its goal of one million signatures.
EU Gamers Rally Behind the Cause
39% of the Goal Achieved
The petition has surpassed its signature threshold in seven EU countries: Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden. Currently boasting 397,943 signatures, it represents 39% progress towards the one million signature goal.
This initiative, launched in June, directly addresses the growing concern of unplayable games following the termination of publisher support. The petition advocates for legislation compelling publishers to ensure continued functionality of online games, even after official server shutdowns.
As stated in the petition, publishers selling or licensing games in the EU should be obligated to maintain the game's playable state. The petition specifically targets the practice of remotely disabling games without providing reasonable alternatives for continued gameplay.
The petition highlights the controversial shutdown of Ubisoft's The Crew in March 2024 as a prime example. Despite a large player base (estimated at 12 million worldwide), server closures rendered the game unplayable, sparking outrage among players and even leading to lawsuits in California.
While the petition still has a significant way to go before reaching its target, EU citizens of voting age have until July 31st, 2025, to add their support. Non-EU citizens can contribute by spreading awareness of this important campaign.
