EU Petition to Halt Video Game Destruction Gains Traction in 7 Countries

The Stop Destroying Videogames Petition in the EU is making significant strides towards its goal of 1 million signatures. This initiative has already garnered substantial support across seven European countries, bringing the total number of signatures to 397,943, which is 39% of the required total.

Gamers Across Seven EU Countries Show Support

EU gamers are rallying behind the Stop Destroying Video Games petition, which has reached its signature threshold in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden. Some of these countries have even surpassed their individual goals, highlighting the strong backing this initiative enjoys.

The petition, launched earlier in June, addresses the growing issue of video games becoming unplayable after their support ends. It aims to introduce legislation that would require game publishers to ensure their online games remain playable even after servers are shut down. As stated in the petition, "This initiative calls to require publishers that sell or license videogames to consumers in the European Union (or related features and assets sold for videogames they operate) to leave said videogames in a functional (playable) state. Specifically, the initiative seeks to prevent the remote disabling of videogames by the publishers, before providing reasonable means to continue functioning of said videogames without the involvement from the side of the publisher."

A notable example driving the petition's momentum is the case of Ubisoft's open-world racing game, The Crew. Released in 2014 and enjoyed by over 12 million players worldwide, the game's servers were shut down in March 2024 due to server infrastructure and licensing issues. This move left players unable to access their game progress, sparking outrage and even lawsuits from two gamers in California, who claimed that this action violated consumer protection laws.

Despite the progress, the petition still needs more signatures to reach the 1 million mark. EU citizens of voting age have until July 31st, 2025, to support the initiative by visiting the petition's website. While those outside the EU cannot sign, they can contribute by spreading awareness to potential supporters within the EU.