European Gamers Launch Petition to Save Online Games from Server Shutdowns
A major petition, "Stop Killing Games," is underway in Europe, aiming to protect players' digital investments in online games. The initiative seeks to compel the European Union to legislate against game publishers shutting down servers and rendering games unplayable after ending support.
The campaign, spearheaded by Ross Scott, seeks to establish a precedent within the EU that could influence global industry practices. While the proposed law would only be legally binding within Europe, the hope is that its success will encourage similar measures worldwide, either through legislation or voluntary industry standards.
The ambitious undertaking requires navigating the European Citizen's Initiative process, demanding one million signatures from EU citizens of voting age within a year. The petition, launched in August 2024, has already garnered significant support, exceeding 183,000 signatures.
The catalyst for this initiative was Ubisoft's shutdown of The Crew in March 2024, effectively eliminating the investment of 12 million players. This highlights the growing concern over the loss of countless hours and resources invested in online-only games when servers are deactivated. Other recent examples include the closures of SYNCED and NEXON's Warhaven.
Scott describes this practice as "planned obsolescence," comparing it to the lost silent films of the past. The petition advocates for maintaining games in a playable state upon server shutdown, without demanding source code, intellectual property rights, or ongoing support from publishers. The initiative clarifies that this applies even to free-to-play games with microtransactions, ensuring that purchased items remain accessible.
The petition explicitly states it will not require:
- Relinquishing intellectual property rights
- Handing over source code
- Providing indefinite support
- Maintaining server hosting
- Assuming liability for player actions
The success of Knockout City's transition to a free-to-play model with private server support serves as a positive example of a potential solution.
To support the "Stop Killing Games" campaign, visit their website and sign the petition. Even non-European gamers can contribute by spreading awareness of this crucial initiative to protect the future of online gaming.
