A European Union petition demanding publishers maintain playable online games after server shutdowns has surpassed its signature threshold in seven member states, nearing its 1 million signature goal. Let's delve into the details of this significant campaign.
EU Gamers Rally Behind Petition
39% of the 1 Million Signature Goal Achieved
The "Stop Destroying Video Games" petition has successfully met its signature requirements in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden, with some countries exceeding the target. This impressive show of support has garnered 397,943 signatures—39% of the one million needed to compel the EU to consider the petition.
This initiative, launched in June, directly addresses the growing concern of unplayable games after publisher support ceases. The petition advocates for legislation requiring publishers to ensure the continued functionality of online games, even after official server closures.
As the petition states, "This initiative calls for publishers selling or licensing videogames in the EU to maintain said videogames in a playable state. It specifically aims to prevent publishers from remotely disabling videogames without providing reasonable alternatives 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, rendered the game unplayable, sparking outrage among players and even leading to lawsuits in California alleging violation of consumer protection laws.
While the petition is still short of its goal, EU citizens of voting age have until July 31st, 2025, to add their support. Although non-EU citizens cannot sign, they can contribute by spreading awareness of this important campaign.