The trade group, Video Games Europe, which advocates for the EU’s video game industry, has spoken out on the growing “Stop Killing Games” campaign. In a recent statement, they expressed concerns about potential drawbacks and intricate circumstances that might arise from granting gamers unlimited access to their games once official support ends.
As a gamer, I want to express my gratitude for the fervor and dedication shown by our community. But let me clarify, the choice to cease online services isn’t made impulsively or without careful consideration. It’s a tough decision that companies must consider when maintaining an online experience becomes unsustainable from a commercial standpoint. Rest assured, if such a situation arises, we will always strive to provide ample notice of any changes in line with local consumer protection regulations, ensuring fairness for our players. I know it might be disheartening, but these steps are necessary for the longevity and health of the gaming industry.
Using private servers as an alternative for players isn’t always feasible because the safety measures we implement to safeguard player data, filter out unlawful content, and control harmful community content would be absent, potentially exposing rights holders to liability. Furthermore, numerous games are engineered specifically for online play; these suggestions could limit developers’ creativity by making it excessively costly to develop such video games. We look forward to engaging in dialogue with policymakers and the leaders of the European Citizens Initiative about our stance in the upcoming months.
The initiative called “Stop Killing Games,” focused on upholding gamers’ right to play digital and live-service games, has gained significant momentum lately, collecting more than 1.2 million signatures. If this petition is successful, it could prompt the European Commission to think about new guidelines or pass laws concerning consumer video game rights within the EU. This action might also stimulate similar developments in other nations.
The ‘Stop Killing Games’ campaign was launched by consumers aiming to question the validity of video game publishers discontinuing games that they’ve sold to buyers. More and more games are being marketed as products without expiration dates, but after support from the publisher ceases, they become unplayable. This method is a form of deliberate obsolescence, which not only harms consumers but also makes preservation extremely challenging. Additionally, the legal status of this practice remains largely unexplored in numerous countries.
As a passionate gamer, I’ve noticed that many game studios have been reluctant to provide permanent access rights to online and live-service games. This is because granting such rights would impose numerous responsibilities on them. However, the gaming community is growing more vocal about wanting this privilege, as an increasing number of modern games are shifting from being full products to mere licenses or limited live-service agreements.
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It’s worth noting that when you buy games from platforms like Steam or Epic Games, you’re essentially buying a license to play the game on that specific platform, not actually owning it. This means the provider has the power to limit or remove your access, or even change the game without consulting you. While this point has been debated among gamers for some time, the consequences of inadequate protection have grown more significant as physical video game sales decrease at an increasing pace.
Video Games Europe‘s stance against the Stop Killing Games movement’s demands suggests they may resist any proposed rule changes from the European Commission. This resistance is not surprising to some gamers, and this apparent disagreement could be a significant legal battle over gaming rights between consumers and game publishers. As the petition nears its target of 1.4 million signatures, this conflict might shape the gaming industry landscape in numerous countries globally.
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2025-07-08 00:39