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

Ubisoft's decision to shut down The Crew ignited a European-wide petition demanding legal protection for digital game purchases. This article explores the petition's goals and the fight to preserve player investments in online games.

European Gamers Unite to Save Online Games

"Stop Killing Games" Petition Aims for One Million Signatures

A significant movement is underway across Europe to protect players' digital assets. The "Stop Killing Games" petition urges the European Union to pass legislation preventing publishers from making games unplayable after ending support.

Ross Scott, a key organizer, is confident of success, citing alignment with existing consumer protection laws. While the proposed law would only apply within Europe, Scott hopes its success in this major market will inspire global change, either through similar legislation or industry-wide standards.

The challenge is substantial. The petition must garner one million signatures across various European countries within one year to trigger the formal legislative proposal process. Eligibility is simple: European citizens of voting age (age varies by country).

Launched in early August, the petition already boasts 183,593 signatures. While the target remains distant, the campaign has a year to reach its ambitious goal.

Holding Publishers Accountable for Server Closures

Ubisoft's sudden termination of The Crew's online services in March 2024, impacting 12 million players, highlighted the core issue. The closure effectively erased millions of hours of gameplay and investment.

The reality is stark: online-only game shutdowns mean irreversible loss of invested time and money. Even in the first half of 2024, titles like SYNCED and NEXON's Warhaven met similar fates, leaving players with nothing to show for their purchases.

"It's a form of planned obsolescence," Scott stated in a YouTube video. "Publishers are destroying games they've already sold, but keeping the money." He compared this to the silent film era's loss of films due to silver recovery practices.

The petition advocates for a simple solution: "leave the game in a working state at the time of shutdown." The proposed law would mandate that publishers maintain the functionality of games sold within the EU. The specific implementation method would be left to the publishers.

The initiative extends to free-to-play games with microtransactions. Scott argues that if purchased microtransactions become inaccessible due to server closures, players have effectively lost their purchased goods.

This approach has precedent. Knockout City, shut down in June 2023, was later released as a free-to-play standalone game with private server support, making all previous purchases effectively accessible.

However, the petition clarifies what it doesn't demand: relinquishing intellectual property rights, source code, endless support, server hosting, or liability for player actions.

Support the "Stop Killing Games" campaign by signing the petition on their website (one signature per person). Country-specific instructions are available to ensure signature validity.

Even non-Europeans can contribute by spreading awareness. The ultimate goal is to create a positive industry-wide impact, preventing future game closures.