A European Union petition to prevent video game publishers from remotely disabling games after support ends is gaining momentum. The "Stop Destroying Video Games" petition has already surpassed its signature threshold in seven EU countries: Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden.
Significant Progress, but More Signatures Needed
With 397,943 signatures collected (39% of the 1 million goal), the petition is making significant headway. The initiative directly addresses the growing concern of games becoming unplayable after publisher support ceases.
The petition aims to legally require publishers to maintain the functionality of games sold within the EU, preventing the remote disabling of games without providing reasonable alternatives for continued play. This follows numerous instances where players lost access to games they had purchased, such as the 2024 shutdown of Ubisoft's The Crew, leaving millions of players without access to their progress.
The petition cites The Crew as a prime example of this issue, highlighting the frustration of players who lost access to a game they had legitimately purchased. While a California lawsuit against Ubisoft regarding this issue underscores the consumer protection concerns, this EU petition seeks to establish a broader legal framework to prevent similar situations.
EU citizens of voting age have until July 31st, 2025 to sign the petition. While non-EU citizens cannot sign, they can help spread awareness of the initiative and encourage support.
