EU Law Proposal: 1 Million Signatures Needed for MMO Preservation

European Gamers Launch Petition to Save Online Games from Publisher Shutdowns

A European citizen's initiative, "Stop Killing Games," is demanding the European Union legislate against game publishers shutting down online games and leaving players with unplayable purchases. The petition, launched in August 2024, aims to collect one million signatures within a year to force the EU to consider the proposal. Currently, it boasts over 183,000 signatures.

MMO Game Preservation Efforts Require One Million Signatures to Propose EU Law

The campaign, spearheaded by Ross Scott, argues that shutting down servers for online-only games constitutes a form of planned obsolescence, effectively destroying players' investments. The closure of Ubisoft's The Crew in March 2024, impacting 12 million players, highlighted the urgency of the issue. Other games like SYNCED and NEXON's Warhaven have also met premature ends this year.

MMO Game Preservation Efforts Require One Million Signatures to Propose EU Law

The proposed law wouldn't demand publishers relinquish intellectual property, source code, or provide endless support. Instead, it focuses on ensuring games remain playable at the time of server shutdown, regardless of whether they are purchased or free-to-play with microtransactions. The initiative draws a parallel to the loss of silent films due to similar practices in the past. The method of maintaining playability would be left to the publishers. The successful example of Knockout City, which transitioned to a free-to-play model with private server support after its shutdown, is cited as a viable alternative.

MMO Game Preservation Efforts Require One Million Signatures to Propose EU Law

The petition's organizers are confident of success, believing the initiative aligns with existing consumer protection policies. While the law would only apply within the EU, they hope its success will set a global precedent, influencing industry practices worldwide.

MMO Game Preservation Efforts Require One Million Signatures to Propose EU Law

To participate, visit the "Stop Killing Games" website and sign the petition. Non-European citizens are encouraged to spread awareness of the campaign to amplify its impact. The ultimate goal is to prevent further losses of digital game purchases due to premature server shutdowns.