A significant pushback against the obsolescence of video games is underway in the EU. The "Stop Destroying Video Games" petition has already surpassed its signature threshold in seven member states, propelling it closer to its ambitious goal of one million signatures.
Strong European Gamer Support
The petition has garnered considerable support, exceeding targets in several countries including Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden. This impressive wave of support has accumulated 397,943 signatures—a substantial 39% of the one million signature goal.
The petition, launched in June, directly addresses the growing concern of unplayable games after publisher support ends. It advocates for legislation requiring publishers to maintain the functionality of online games even after official server closures. The petition explicitly states its aim to prevent publishers from remotely disabling games without providing reasonable alternatives for continued gameplay.
A High-Profile Example: The Crew
The petition highlights the controversial shutdown of Ubisoft's The Crew in March 2024 as a prime example. Despite a substantial player base (estimated at 12 million worldwide), Ubisoft deactivated the game's servers, rendering player progress inaccessible. This action sparked outrage, leading to legal action in California, where gamers sued Ubisoft for violating consumer protection laws.
While the petition still needs significant support to reach its million-signature goal, EU citizens of voting age have until July 31st, 2025, to add their voices. Although non-EU citizens can't sign, they can contribute by raising awareness among those eligible.
