A European Union petition demanding publishers maintain playable online games after support ends is gaining traction. Already surpassing its signature threshold in seven countries, the initiative is closing in on its one million signature goal.
EU Gamers Unite: Significant Support for Preserving Online Games
Nearly 40% of Goal Achieved
The "Stop Destroying Video Games" petition has exceeded its signature target in seven EU nations: Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden. This impressive response has yielded 397,943 signatures – a substantial 39% of the one million signatures needed.
Launched in June, this petition addresses the growing concern of games becoming unplayable after publisher support ceases. The campaign advocates for legislation requiring publishers to ensure continued functionality of online games, even after official server shutdowns.
As stated in the petition, "This initiative demands publishers selling or licensing videogames (or related assets) in the EU maintain the games in a playable state. Specifically, it aims to prevent publishers from remotely disabling games without providing reasonable means for continued gameplay independent of publisher involvement."
The petition highlights the controversial shutdown of Ubisoft's The Crew, a 2014 racing game with over 12 million players. Ubisoft's March 2024 server closure, attributed to infrastructure and licensing issues, erased player progress and sparked outrage, even leading to lawsuits in California alleging violation of consumer protection laws.
While significant progress has been made, the petition still requires considerable support to reach its goal. Eligible EU citizens have until July 31st, 2025 to sign. Those outside the EU are encouraged to share the petition to raise awareness.
