European Gamers Launch Petition to Save Online Games from Server Shutdowns
A significant European initiative, "Stop Killing Games," is underway, aiming to protect players' investments in online games. Driven by Ubisoft's closure of The Crew, the petition seeks EU legislation preventing publishers from rendering games unplayable after ending support.
The petition, spearheaded by Ross Scott, needs one million signatures within a year to trigger a formal legislative proposal. While ambitious, Scott is confident, citing alignment with existing consumer protection policies. Success within the EU could inspire global change, either through similar laws or industry self-regulation.
The initiative directly addresses the loss incurred when online-only games are shut down, highlighting the significant investment players make – time and money – which is lost when servers are deactivated. Examples like SYNCED and NEXON's Warhaven underscore the urgency.
"It's a form of planned obsolescence," Scott explains, comparing it to the lost films of the silent era. The petition doesn't demand endless support or source code release, but simply that games remain playable at the time of shutdown. This applies to free-to-play games with microtransactions as well, ensuring purchased items aren't rendered worthless. The success of Knockout City's transition to a free-to-play model with private server support demonstrates a viable alternative.
The petition explicitly states it will not require: relinquishing intellectual property rights, source code release, endless support, server hosting, or liability for player actions.
To participate, visit the "Stop Killing Games" website. While signatures are limited to one per person, the campaign encourages global support by spreading awareness. The ultimate aim is to prevent future game closures and protect player investments.
