MMO Game Preservation Efforts Require One Million Signatures to Propose EU Law

European Gamers Launch Petition to Save Online Games from Server Shutdowns

A European citizen's initiative, "Stop Killing Games," is demanding EU legislation to protect players' digital purchases by preventing game publishers from shutting down online games and rendering them unplayable. The petition, spearheaded by Ross Scott, aims to hold publishers accountable for server closures that erase players' investments in games.

The initiative's urgency stems from recent high-profile game closures like Ubisoft's shutdown of The Crew, impacting 12 million players. This, along with the announced closures of titles like SYNCED and NEXON's Warhaven, highlights the growing concern over "planned obsolescence" in the gaming industry. Scott argues that publishers are profiting from selling games then making them unplayable, akin to the lost films of the silent era.

The petition seeks one million signatures within a year to trigger the EU legislative process. While already boasting over 183,593 signatures, the campaign faces a significant challenge. The proposed law would only apply within the EU, but Scott hopes its success will influence global change through legal pressure or industry self-regulation.

The initiative's goal is to ensure games remain playable at the time of server shutdown, regardless of whether they are premium or free-to-play titles with microtransactions. The petition clarifies that it doesn't demand relinquishing intellectual property, source code, or perpetual support, only the preservation of the game's functionality. The example of Knockout City, successfully transitioned to a free-to-play standalone game with private server support, demonstrates a viable model.

The petition explicitly states that it will not:

• Require publishers to relinquish intellectual property rights
• Require publishers to surrender source code
• Mandate endless support
• Demand publishers host servers indefinitely
• Hold publishers liable for player actions

To participate, visit the "Stop Killing Games" website and sign the petition. While only one signature per person is allowed, country-specific instructions are provided to ensure validity. Even non-European gamers are encouraged to spread awareness and support the campaign's efforts to prevent future game closures.