A European Petition to Preserve Video Games Gains Momentum
A petition urging the European Union to protect player access to video games after publisher support ends has surpassed its signature threshold in seven countries, nearing its 1 million signature goal.
Significant Progress Towards 1 Million Signatures
The initiative, "Stop Destroying Video Games," has garnered 397,943 signatures—39% of its target—across Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden. Some countries have even exceeded their individual signature goals.
This petition directly addresses the growing concern of games becoming unplayable after official support ceases. It advocates for legislation requiring publishers to maintain the functionality of online games, even after server shutdowns, preventing the remote disabling of purchased games without reasonable alternatives for continued play.
As the petition states, publishers should be obligated to ensure games remain playable after sale, preventing the arbitrary removal of access to purchased content.
The petition highlights the controversy surrounding Ubisoft's shutdown of The Crew in March 2024, leaving millions of players unable to access their purchased game. This event, along with similar incidents, fuels the campaign for stronger consumer protections.
While the petition still needs significant support to reach its goal, EU citizens of voting age have until July 31st, 2025, to add their signatures. Those outside the EU can contribute by sharing the petition to raise awareness.
