A European Union petition, "Stop Destroying Video Games," is gaining momentum, nearing its goal of one million signatures. The petition has already surpassed its signature threshold in seven EU countries: Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden.
Significant Progress Made
The petition currently boasts 397,943 signatures—39% of its target. This substantial support highlights growing gamer concern over the practice of rendering online games unplayable after server shutdowns.
Addressing the Issue of Abandonware
The petition aims to introduce legislation requiring publishers to maintain the functionality of online games sold within the EU, even after official support ends. This addresses the frustration of players losing access to games they've purchased, a problem exemplified by Ubisoft's shutdown of The Crew in March 2024. This shutdown, impacting millions of players, sparked outrage and even legal action in California.
The petition directly states its aim: "to prevent the remote disabling of videogames by the publishers, before providing reasonable means to continue functioning of said videogames without the involvement from the side of the publisher."
Call to Action
While significant progress has been made, the petition needs further support to reach its one million signature goal. EU citizens of voting age are encouraged to visit the petition website and sign before the July 31st, 2025 deadline. Those outside the EU can contribute by spreading awareness of the campaign.
