EU Citizens Rally for "Stop Destroying Video Games" Campaign

A European Union petition demanding publishers maintain the playability of online games after server shutdowns is gaining traction. The initiative, aiming for one million signatures, has already surpassed its threshold in seven EU nations. Learn more about this important campaign!

EU Gamers Unite Against Abandonware

Nearly 400,000 Signatures Secured

The "Stop Destroying Video Games" petition has achieved significant success, exceeding signature targets in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden. This impressive response represents 397,943 signatures—a substantial 39% of the one million signature goal.

Launched in June, the petition addresses the growing concern of unplayable games following the termination of publisher support. It advocates for legislation compelling publishers to ensure continued functionality of online games even after official closure, preventing the remote disabling of purchased games.

The petition directly states its aim: "This initiative demands that publishers selling or licensing video games (or related assets) in the EU maintain the games in a playable state. Specifically, it seeks to prevent publishers from remotely disabling games without providing reasonable alternatives for continued gameplay."

The petition cites Ubisoft's shutdown of The Crew in March 2024 as a prime example. Despite a large player base (over 12 million worldwide), server closures rendered the game unplayable, sparking outrage and even legal action in California.

While the petition has made significant progress, it still requires considerable support to reach its goal. EU citizens of voting age have until July 31st, 2025, to sign. Non-EU gamers can contribute by promoting the petition to those who can participate.