The Stop Destroying Videogames Petition in the EU has surged forward, reaching the required threshold in seven countries and inching closer to their ambitious goal of 1 million signatures. Dive in to learn more about this pivotal movement!
Gamers Across Seven EU Countries Show Strong Support
EU gamers are rallying behind the Stop Destroying Video Games petition, which has now achieved the necessary signature count in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden. Some countries have even exceeded their targets, pushing the total number of signatures to an impressive 397,943, which is 39% of the 1 million needed to propel the petition forward.
Launched in June of this year, the petition addresses the growing issue of video games becoming unplayable after their support ends. It champions a proposed law that would mandate publishers to ensure games remain playable even after online services are terminated. The petition states, "This initiative calls to require publishers that sell or license videogames to consumers in the European Union (or related features and assets sold for videogames they operate) to leave said videogames in a functional (playable) state. Specifically, the initiative seeks to prevent the remote disabling of videogames by the publishers, before providing reasonable means to continue functioning of said videogames without the involvement from the side of the publisher."
A poignant example highlighted by the petition is the case of Ubisoft's The Crew, an open-world racing game released in 2014 with a global player base of at least 12 million. Despite its popularity, Ubisoft shut down the game's servers in March 2024 due to server infrastructure and licensing issues, rendering all player progress obsolete. This action sparked outrage among players, leading to legal action by two California gamers against Ubisoft for violating consumer protection laws.
While the petition has made significant strides, the journey to 1 million signatures continues. EU citizens of voting age have until July 31st, 2025, to lend their support by visiting the petition's website. Although non-EU gamers cannot sign, they can contribute by spreading awareness and encouraging others to join the cause.
