The movement hit over 1 million signatures, triggering official consideration by the European Commission.
It demands offline access or community server tools for games users paid for—even after publisher support ends.
Publishers cite high costs, legal concerns, and creative control as reasons to oppose the initiative.
Launched in 2024 by YouTuber Ross Scott, the Stop Killing Games initiative has grabbed the eyeballs of gamers, preservationists and publishers alike, with an aim to preserve video games after their online services are shut down. The movement was sparked by the shutdown of Ubisoft’s The Crew, an online racing game that became completely unplayable earlier this year after its servers were switched off. The growing movement of gamers is demanding accessibility to paid games, even when the publisher stops supporting it.
SurveyHowever, popular game publishers don’t quite like it, and one of the key reasons is the high maintenance cost. Here’s all you need to know.
What is the Stop Killing Games initiative?
The Stop Killing Game initiative is pushing for game preservation and consumer rights. It states that if a player buys a game, they should still be able to play it, even after the publisher has stopped supporting it. The campaign is asking companies to stop disabling games remotely just because support ends and offer offline play options or allow fans to run their own servers. The campaign recently hit a major milestone with over 1 million signatures on a European Citizens’ Initiative petition. This means the European Commission is now required to officially consider it.
Why are publishers against it?
Game publishers and trade groups, including Video Games Europe, aren’t exactly happy with this initiative as they said that this may create big problems for the industry. According to publishers, keeping games alive after servers shut down can be expensive, especially for online-only games. Additionally, allowing users to host servers or modify game files could open the door to data privacy violations or inappropriate content.
They also argued that forcing permanent access might limit the creators’ vision as some developers prefer to create live-service games designed to evolve or end.
However, Ross Scott and his supporters said, “We’re not asking companies to keep updating these games forever. We just want a way to keep them playable.”
He further adds that developers can build in basic offline functionality or hand over tools to the community when games are no longer profitable. He said, “People bought these games. They should be able to use them.”
Also read: Samsung Galaxy A55 5G price drops by Rs 12,000 on Amazon: How to get this deal
What’s next?
Now, with the EU looking into the matter, there’s a possibility that new regulations could be introduced, especially in Europe, which may force game publishers to make some changes in game title ownership.
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Himani Jha
Himani Jha is a tech news writer at Digit. Passionate about smartphones and consumer technology, she has contributed to leading publications such as Times Network, Gadgets 360, and Hindustan Times Tech for the past five years. When not immersed in gadgets, she enjoys exploring the vibrant culinary scene, discovering new cafes and restaurants, and indulging in her love for fine literature and timeless music. View Full Profile
