MMO Game Preservation Efforts Require One Million Signatures to Propose EU Law

European Gamers Launch Petition to Save Online Games from Server Shutdowns

A European citizen's initiative, "Stop Killing Games," is gaining momentum, aiming to protect players' investments in online games facing server closures. The petition seeks one million signatures within a year to compel the European Union to legislate against publishers rendering games unplayable after ending support.

Campaign organizer Ross Scott is confident of success, citing alignment with existing consumer protection policies. While the proposed law's reach is limited to Europe, Scott hopes its impact on this significant market will inspire global change, either through similar legislation or industry-wide standards.

The petition, launched in August 2024, has already amassed 183,593 signatures. The initiative requires one million signatures across various European countries to proceed to the next stage of proposing legislation. Eligibility is restricted to European citizens of voting age.

Ubisoft's shutdown of The Crew in March 2024, impacting 12 million players, ignited the campaign. This highlighted the significant loss of investment when online-only games are rendered unplayable. Further fueling the initiative, games like SYNCED and NEXON's Warhaven have already faced similar closures in 2024.

Scott describes server shutdowns as "planned obsolescence," comparing it to the historical practice of studios destroying silent films to reclaim silver. The petition aims to hold publishers accountable by mandating that games remain playable at the time of server shutdown, regardless of the chosen method.

The initiative extends to free-to-play games with microtransactions, arguing that players should not lose access to purchased items. The success of Knockout City's transition to a free-to-play model with private server support demonstrates the feasibility of alternative solutions.

Crucially, the petition does not demand: relinquishing intellectual property rights, surrendering source code, ensuring endless support, mandatory server hosting, or assuming liability for player actions.

To support the "Stop Killing Games" initiative, visit their website and sign the petition (one signature per person). The website provides country-specific instructions to ensure signature validity. Even non-Europeans can contribute by spreading awareness to create a broader impact on the gaming industry.