Minecraft Creator Weighs in on Stop Killing Games Initiative

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The inventor of Minecraft, recognized as Notch in the digital world, has voiced approval for the principles behind the Stop Killing Games campaign and addressed the EU petition specifically. Notch’s stance emerges amidst escalating discussions on whether gamers should retain access to online and subscription-based games they have already purchased. A contentious topic indeed! In a sequence of posts, Notch expressed his disapproval of practices by major game studios and advocated for improvements in the gaming community.

To confirm, you’re correct – that’s exactly what I was discussing. If acquiring a game doesn’t constitute a purchase, then pirating it isn’t considered theft,” said Notch in response to a commenter, joining the conversation about the Stop Killing Games debate.

In simpler terms, Notch’s remark highlights that most digital games available today are actually licenses for play, not actual ownership of the game. Platforms like Steam and Epic Games merely sell access to these titles, implying consumers lack full control over them. This is unlike traditional physical game copies where you own the product outright. In October, Steam even started adding a warning label to purchases to clarify that users are essentially buying a license, with a link provided to the Steam Subscriber Agreement for further understanding.

Imposing a requirement for an online connection to play specific video games may additionally restrict the autonomy of gaming users, a situation that some find objectionable.

One organization, known as “Stop Killing Games,” is advocating for a right to continued access to digital, online, and live-service games beyond their official support expiration dates. These activists believe that big game companies intentionally design games to become unplayable after they discontinue server access and updates, which they argue negatively impacts the gaming community as a whole. The “Stop Killing Games” campaign in Europe has recently accumulated over 1.2 million signatures, sparking reactions from industry professionals and online commentators.

In a string of social media updates, Notch expressed sympathetic sentiments towards the initiative, but stopped short of explicitly backing it. He clarified that he hadn’t signed the petition as he wished to steer clear of assisting AAA studios and instead intended to challenge them by offering “favorable conditions for users” in direct competition.

While I can’t help AAA at this moment, it’s because I prefer to offer more favorable conditions to users by competing with them instead.

— notch (@notch) July 7, 2025

As a passionate gamer, I’ve noticed some concern about making developers relinquish their servers or pay to maintain them to the gaming community. However, in response to this, Notch proposes a different approach – one where studios entirely abandon server control. This fan prefers the idea of empowering the community by shifting the balance of power towards them, allowing for a more communal gaming experience.

If the Stop Killing Games Initiative in the EU is successful (and it appears it will be, as the target number of signatures is almost reached), some potential changes might be proposed or even implemented in Europe. This could lead to similar laws or regulations being passed in other countries, and companies might proactively adjust their practices in light of these impending restrictions. Notch’s substantial online influence and backing comments may serve to further promote these concepts and foster greater support for Stop Killing Games, which aims to strengthen protections for gaming consumers.

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2025-07-10 01:09