EU Petition Calls for End to Video Game Destruction

A European Union petition demanding publishers maintain the playability of online games after server shutdowns is gaining significant traction. The initiative, aiming for one million signatures, has already surpassed its national thresholds in seven EU member states.

EU Gamers Rally Behind Playability Rights

Nearly 40% of the Goal Reached

The "Stop Destroying Video Games" petition has achieved remarkable success, exceeding signature targets in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden. This collective effort has garnered 397,943 signatures – a substantial 39% of the one million signature goal.

Launched in June, the petition addresses the growing concern of games becoming unplayable after official support ends. It advocates for legislation compelling publishers to ensure continued functionality of online games, even after planned server closures.

The petition explicitly calls for publishers to maintain a playable state for games sold or licensed within the EU. It specifically aims to prevent publishers from remotely disabling games 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 a reported 12 million players. Ubisoft's server closure in March 2024, attributed to infrastructure and licensing issues, rendered the game unplayable and sparked outrage among players. This incident, and similar cases, underscores the petition's central argument.

While significant progress has been made, the petition still requires considerable support to reach its one million signature target. EU citizens of voting age are encouraged to visit the petition website and contribute before the July 31st, 2025 deadline. Non-EU citizens can assist by promoting the petition within their networks.