Gaming Advocacy: EU Petition Against Video Game Censorship Gains Momentum

A European Union petition demanding publishers maintain the playability of online games after server shutdowns is gaining significant traction. The "Stop Destroying Video Games" initiative has already surpassed its signature threshold in seven EU nations.

Momentum Builds Across Europe

The petition has secured 397,943 signatures—39% of its 1 million target—across Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden. Several countries have even exceeded their individual goals.

This initiative addresses the growing concern of games becoming unplayable following the termination of publisher support. The petition advocates for legislation requiring publishers to ensure continued functionality of their games, even after official server closures.

As the petition states, publishers should be obligated to maintain the playable state of games sold within the EU, preventing the remote disabling of games without providing reasonable alternatives for continued gameplay.

The petition highlights the controversial shutdown of Ubisoft's The Crew, a 2014 racing game with a substantial player base. Ubisoft's decision to shut down servers in March 2024, citing infrastructure and licensing issues, sparked outrage and even legal action in California.

While the petition still requires significant support to reach its goal, EU citizens of voting age have until July 31st, 2025, to add their signatures. Non-EU citizens can contribute by promoting the petition within their networks.