EU Petition to Stop Video Game Destruction Gains Support in 7 Countries

The Stop Destroying Videogames Petition in the EU is making significant strides, having achieved its required signature threshold in seven countries and inching closer to its ambitious goal of 1 million signatures. Dive deeper to learn more about this impactful campaign!

Gamers Across Seven EU Countries Rally in Support

39% Of 1 Million Signatures Achieved

EU gamers are rallying behind the Stop Destroying Video Games petition, which has successfully reached its required threshold in Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden. Some countries have even exceeded their targets, pushing the total signatures to 397,943, which accounts for 39% of the 1 million signatures needed to push the petition forward.

Launched in June, the Stop Destroying Video Games petition addresses a growing concern: the increasing number of video games that become unplayable after their support ends. The initiative aims to combat the issue of games turning into "abandonware" by advocating for legislation that requires publishers to ensure their games remain playable even after an online game's closure.

As stated in the petition, "This initiative calls for publishers that sell or license videogames to consumers in the European Union (or related features and assets sold for videogames they operate) to maintain these videogames in a functional (playable) state. Specifically, the initiative aims to prevent the remote disabling of videogames by publishers, ensuring reasonable means are provided for the games to continue functioning without publisher involvement."

A notable example highlighted by the petition is the case of Ubisoft's open-world racing game, The Crew, launched in 2014 and enjoyed by over 12 million players globally. Despite its popularity, Ubisoft decided to shut down the game's servers in March 2024 due to server infrastructure and licensing issues, rendering all player progress obsolete. This decision sparked outrage among players, leading to a lawsuit by two gamers from California against Ubisoft for violating consumer protection laws by revoking their right to play a game they had purchased.

While the petition has made significant progress, it still has a way to go to reach the 1 million signature mark. EU citizens of voting age have until July 31st, 2025, to lend their support by visiting the petition's website. Although non-EU residents cannot sign, they can contribute by spreading awareness and encouraging others to join the cause.