A European Petition to Preserve Online Games Gains Momentum
A petition urging the European Union to protect players from unplayable games after server shutdowns is gaining significant traction. The "Stop Destroying Video Games" petition has already surpassed its signature threshold in seven EU countries: Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden.
With over 397,943 signatures (39% of the 1 million goal), the petition highlights a growing concern among gamers. Many games become unplayable after developers end support, rendering significant investments of time and money worthless.
The petition seeks legislation requiring publishers to maintain the functionality of online games they sell in the EU, even after official support ceases. This aims to prevent publishers from remotely disabling games, as seen in instances like Ubisoft's shutdown of The Crew in 2024, leaving millions of players unable to access their progress. This shutdown sparked outrage and even legal action in California.
The petition remains open until July 31st, 2025. While non-EU citizens can't sign, they can help spread awareness to encourage support within the EU. The campaign's success hinges on reaching the one million signature target.
